MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Huntingdon rallied for three runs in the fifth inning to take the lead for keeps in a 5-4 decision over Maryville on Saturday afternoon.
The Hawks outhit Maryville 11-8 but committed four errors. One of those came with two outs in the ninth inning to allow
Jimmy Meredith to reach second base and keep the Scots hopes alive.
Carter Crow pinch-ran for Meredith and promptly stole third, but Crow was stranded and Maryville has dropped the first two games of this three-game set.
Maryville scored first.
Will Hubbell continues swinging a hot bat and his infield single in the second inning plated
Jacob Johnston for a 1-0 Scots lead. Hubbell in his last five games is 10-for-19 and he's up to .458 for the season.
Huntingdon took a 2-1 lead in the third but then the Scots tied it with a single run in the fifth.
Christian Carlton led off with a single to left and he advanced to third on Hubbell's second hit of the game. Meredith then grounded out to plate Carlton and tie the game 2-2.
After the Hawks scored three times in the bottom of the fifth, Maryville closed the gap with a two-spot in the eighth. With two out,
Max Bowers walked and
Sam Martucci reached on an error.
Zach Fritts walked to load the bases and set the stage for Johnston, who laced a two-run single to right that narrowed the Huntingdon lead to 5-4.
The Scots threatened in the ninth but could not score.
Hubbell and Carlton had two hits apiece to lead the Maryville offense. Huntingdon leadoff man Daniel Phillips led all batters with a 3-for-4 afternoon with two runs scored and one driven.
Hawks righthander Hall Billings went 7 and 2/3 innings, allowing just one earned run on eight hits and striking out 10 for the pitching victory. He is 2-2. Parker Szush got the final four outs for his first save of the season.
Nick Mirabella took the loss for Maryville, falling to 3-1. Brendan Schlabach was solid in relief, allowing just two hits over his 3 and 2/3 innings, with three strikeouts against no walks.
Sunday's Game 3 is set for 1 p.m. Central time.
