ROME, Ga. - The Hawks struggled in their return to conference play, dropping two games to the Alabama Huntsville Chargers, 11-1 and 7-4.
The losses drop Shorter's record to 10-19 overall, with a 4-13 mark in the Gulf South Conference. The Chargers improve to 19-11 on the year.
In game one, after failing to score in the opening inning, Alabama Huntsville scored five runs over the next two innings. In the second, the Chargers took advantage of two singles, a double, and solo home run. The four hits allowed Huntsville to take a 3-0 lead. The following inning, the visitors scored twice more, increasing their advantage to 5-0. Austin Sanders scored on a throwing error, while Zach Dugas batted in AJ Walden.
Shorter scored its only run in the bottom of the third.
Brian Cabrera led off with a single and proceeded to steal second base. Cabrera advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored thanks to
Dustin Lawson's rbi single. At the end of three, the Hawks trailed the Chargers, 5-1.
Over the final six innings of game one, Alabama Huntsville scored six more times, including five runs over the final two innings on its way to an 11-1 victory.
The Chargers had 12 hits, compared to just 6 for Shorter.
UAH's Wilson Adams received the win, pitching eight innings and giving up one earned run.
Tyler Cates took the loss for the Hawks. Cates pitched six innings, giving up seven hits and six earned runs.
Shorter fared much better in the final game of the double header, but fell 7-4.
The Chargers scored all seven of their runs in the second and third innings to take a 7-0 lead.
Facing a big deficit after three innings, the Hawks rallied to pull within three runs, 7-4.
Austin Miller's leadoff double, followed by
Blaze Vazquez's walk gave Shorter two runners on with nobody out.
Dustin Lawson singled, batting in Miller.
Greg Gladden's rbi fielder's choice made the score 7-2. With one out,
Ty Cherry walked and
Raul Cortes singled, loading the bases. After a strikeout, Cabrera's two-rbi single plated two, cutting the Huntsville lead to 7-4.
Although the Hawks trailed by only three runs after the third inning, they were unable to get any closer. Neither team managed any runs for the remainder of the contest as Alabama Huntsville defeated Shorter, 7-4.
Heath McRae earned the win for the Chargers, while the
Ryan Dolan took the loss for the Hawks.
The two teams will play the final game of the three game series tomorrow afternoon. First pitch is set for 1 PM EST from Rome, Georgia.
