LIVINGSTON, Ala. – The Shorter Hawks continued their road series against West Alabama on Saturday with a doubleheader. The Hawks picked up both wins to take the sweep from the Tigers. In a close first game Shorter skated away with a 6-5 win but the second game the Hawks had an offensive explosion the the Tigers couldnt handle with a final score of 10-1.
Shorter improves to 12-6 overall and 9-6 in GSC play while West Alabama falls to 8-8 overall and 6-7 GSC.
Game 1
The Hawks started game one on Saturday behind senior arm Ryan Parker, who was looking to pick up his third win.
The Hawks had a slow start offensively but broke the game open in the top of the third, with Don Frayer stealing second and Matt Christian scoring. The Tigers answered quickly in the bottom of the third, with Jake Nemith hitting an RBI double and then ended up scoring on a passed ball to give the Tigers the lead 2-1. The Hawks answered back in the top of the fifth with Christian hitting an RBI single to drive in Cory Mason. Then Aaron Reardon drove Christian in on an RBI single to right field. The Tigers rallied back in the bottom of the fifth, with Nemith having an RBI single, followed by another RBI single from Gavin Rogers, and then Brayden Lyman drove home another run on an RBI single to take the lead 5-3. The Hawks turned to Carson Cook, who came in and lock it down. In the top of the eighth, the Hawks came back to take the lead with a sacrifice fly from Kaleeq Brannigan, to score Reardon. Then Nathaniel Butterworth hit into a fielder's choice, which scored Justin Barnes. Then Luis Acevedo drove in the go-ahead run on a single to right field and scored Jacob Pajer. Kevin Ludden came in to shut the door for the Hawks, picking up his fourth save of the season and giving Cook his second win of the season.
Game 2
The Hawks started game two of the doubleheader behind senior arm Taylor Boisclair, looking to pick up his second win.
The Hawks wasted no time breaking the game open, as Barnes stole third and then scored due to a throwing error. Followed up by a two-run shot from Acevedo, giving the Hawks a 3-0 lead. In the top of the third, the Hawks continued to be trouble on the base paths, forcing errors on throws, which scored Barnes again. With Jacob Pajer scoring on a wild pitch, the Hawks punished the Tigers for their mistakes. In the top of the sixth, Cory Mason grounded out to first, to score Acevado and add another run to the scoreboard. The Tigers scratched across their only run in the bottom of the sixth; Lyman hit a sacrifice fly. The Hawks continued to pour it on in the top of the seventh, Reardon scored on a wild pitch, and Butterworth scored on a passed ball, with Acevedo hitting a sacrifice fly to give the Hawks the lead 9-1. In the top of the ninth, Brannigan hit a solo shot to make the final score 10-1. Boisclair threw a strong seven innings to earn his second win, striking out nine.
The Hawks will enjoy the sweep over the Tigers. As they regroup to head back out on the road to take on Mississippi College, the First pitch is Friday, March 19th, at 7 pm, and the doubleheader will be Saturday, March 20th beginning at 2 pm.
