MONTGOMERY, Ala. --- Huntingdon
College's baseball team opened Great South Athletic Conference play
with a loss, 3-1, to Piedmont College on Friday evening at Posey
Field. Boxscore
After two quick strike outs in the
bottom 9th inning, Huntingdon strung together two base
hits with hopes of sending a few runners across the plate for the
win. However, Piedmont's Matt Collins picked up his sixth save of the
season by striking out sophomore Keegan Lambeth for the final out of
the game.
Junior Kevin Aaron (3-3) made his
eighth start of the season for the Hawks pitching seven innings
allowing three runs on nine hits while striking out three in the
loss. Sophomore Parker Adams came in for relief in the final two
innings of the game allowing no runs or hits and striking out two
Lion batters in his fifth appearance of the season.
At the plate, senior Stephen Bishop
(2-for-4) paced Huntingdon picking up two of the Hawks' eight hits of
the night. Sophomore Austin White drove in Huntingdon's only run of
the game in the conference loss. Senior Miles Walding recorded the
Hawks' only stolen base of the game on Friday night.
Huntingdon gave the Lions the first run
of the game in the top of the 3rd inning when junior Chad
Baxley's fielding error at third base allowed Piedmont's Curtis
Cornett to score from second base, 1-0.
The Lions (17-11, 1-0 GSAC) extended
their lead, 2-0, in the top of the 5th inning off of
Cornett's sacrifice fly to center field driving in Kyle Davis from
third base for Piedmont.
In the bottom of the 6th
inning, senior Drew Harrell led off with a double down the left field
line setting up Huntingdon's first and only run of the game. Harrell
scored when White singled up the middle, 2-1. Unfortunately, the
Hawks surrendered three straight fly outs to end the sixth after
cutting the Lions' lead by one run with no outs.
Piedmont added their third and final
run, 3-1, of the night from Tate Koons' sacrifice fly to right field
driving in Dave Bartek for the Lions two run advantage in the top of
the 7th inning.
Kevin Caldwell (5-2) pitched seven
innings for the Lions allowing one run on six hits and five strike
outs in his fifth win of the season. Collins and Ed Cook each pitched
one inning and both recorded three strike outs. Piedmont's pitching
staff struck out a combined 11 Hawk batters in the victory.
The Hawks (15-9, 0-1 GSAC) return to
Posey Field on Saturday, Apr. 2, at 2 p.m. against Piedmont.
Huntingdon will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the
baseball program on Saturday afternoon.
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