ROME -- The Hawks split the Saturday doubleheader with Lee to open the final weekend of the season. Winning the opener in thrilling fashion, 11-10, before falling in the finale, 8-4.
Shorter moves to 23-24 on the season and 11-18 in the GSC; while the Flames moves to 24-24 overall. And 15-13 in conference play.
GAME 1: SU 11, LU 10
Lee jumped out to a big lead, scoring four in the second to pull away. Before adding six in the third to make it a 10-0 game.
From there, the Hawks began chipping away; cutting into the lead with a solo homerun from
Samyr Santos in the third and a two run shot from
Blake Metcalfe in the fourth for the 10-3 score.
Luis Acevedo then added an RBI single in the seventh for the 10-4 score.
In the ninth, Shorter then rallied for seven runs to earn the win. Santos led off with a single and move to second on a walk from
Isaiah Maddela before coming in on a three-run homer from Acevedo for the 10-7 score. The Hawks then loaded the bases on back-to-back walks and hit by pitch.
Ethan Radcliffe followed with an RBI single for the 10-8 score. And,
Bailey Gerstner brought in
Ricky Alvarez on a sacrifice fly to make it a 10-9 game. Santos then added the heroics with an RBI single from plate
Angel Acosta and
Jacob Ramos for the 11-10 win.
Tyler Cates earned the win, his first of the season, pitching the final six innings in relief; allowing no run on two hits with two walks and four strikeouts.
Santos finished 4-6 at the plate; while
Raul Cortes tallied a 3-6 game and both, Acevedo and Radcliffe finished with two hits apiece.
GAME 2: LU 8, SU 4
Shorter kept the momentum going in game two; opening the game with four runs in the first. Maddela got things going with a two run double to bring in Gerstner and Cortes, before scoring later in the inning on double steal attempt. Acevedo added an RBI ground out in the inning for the 4-0 score.
From there, the Flames posted four runs in each the third and fourth for the 8-4 final score.
Banks Woodley took the loss, allowing four runs on three hits with three walks and three strikeouts through three innings of work.
Gerstner finished 3-4 at the plate; while Acevedo added two hits.
UP NEXT
The Hawks will look for the series win Sunday afternoon in the final game of the year. Game time is set for 1:00pm.
