Hawks Secure Spot In CCS Title Game Following Victory Over LaGrange

MARYVILLE, Tenn.- After taking a 3-0 lead into the bottom of the second inning against the Panthers on Thursday, Huntingdon Baseball finally returned to action at the CCS tournament following a two-day rain delay in their elimination game against LaGrange. 

In spite of the delay, the Hawks kept their poise and their groove, defeating the Panthers 8-4 to secure their spot in the 2025 Collegiate Conference of the South Championship game. 

How it happened

Prior to the initial rain delay, the Hawks put three runs on the board in the top of the first inning. Brodie Holcomb got things going early, drilling a single into right field that allowed Cade Morgan to score for Huntingdon's first run before Sam Kelley found his way home off the bat of Dalton Kuhn to extend the lead to 2-0. Byron McLain closed the inning with a sacrifice fly, returning the favor to Holcomb from earlier in the inning to make the score 3-0. 

With play resuming in the bottom of the second inning today, LaGrange caught fire in the early action, scoring four runs to lead before the start of the third inning. The Hawks managed to tie things at four in the top of the fifth inning, with a wild pitch making way for another Cade Morgan run. Dalton Kuhn followed up with his second RBI of the game, sending Sam Kelley home on another single to hand the lead back to Huntingdon, 5-4. McLain's second sacrifice fly pushed the lead to 6-4 to retire the opening frame of the inning. 

From the sixth inning on, it was all Huntingdon, as the Hawks outscored LaGrange 2-0 to walk away with the 8-4 win. McLain picked up his third RBI of the game on yet another sacrifice fly in the seventh inning, scoring Holcomb to bring the score to 7-4 before Brent Cadenhead's run in the eighth put the game on ice. 

In the circle

Huntingdon pitched four Hawks throughout the duration of the contest, but it was Evan Clark who walked away with the victory. He allowed just two hits in 4.2 innings of action to put the Hawks in a position to extend their lead. Parker Szush and Will Argo each also drew time on the mound before Brent Cadenhead picked up his seventh save on the season in the final frame of the contest. 

What's Next?

The Hawks are set for another matchup at 6:30 tonight. If Belhaven defeats Maryville in game nine of the tournament, then they will face off with the Blazers for the championship, with a second game to come later, if necessary. If Maryville defeats Belhaven, then the Hawks will face the Scots tonight, with the winner of that matchup taking on Belhaven tomorrow, May 5th, at 11:00 AM ET.