ROME, Ga. - The Shorter Hawks started their home stand against Auburn Montgomery on Friday with a doubleheader. The Hawks took both games in the doubleheader, taking the series lead 2-0 against the Warhawks. In a dominant first game, Shorter won 14-1, and in the second game, the Hawks won a hard-fought game five to two, with their pitching dominating again.
Shorter improved to 16-7 overall and 13-7 in GSC play. AUM fell to 13-12 overall and 11-12 in GSC play.
Game 1: The Hawks went behind senior arm Jonathan Pintaro, who picked up his sixth win of the season.
The explosive offense for the Hawks did not take long to get going. They broke the game open in the bottom of the first, with Kaleeq Brannigan driving in Justin Barnes on a sacrifice fly, which was followed up by a two-RBI single from Luis Acevedo. In the second inning, freshman star Jacob Pajer hit an RBI double to increase the Hawks's lead to 3-0. The Hawks heated back up in the fifth inning, as Corey Mason had an RBI double, which was followed up by a bases-clearing double from Aaron Reardon, giving the Hawks an 8-0 lead. The Warhawks scratched across their lone run in the top of the sixth, as Casey Henderson had an RBI double. The Hawks continued to pour it on in the bottom of the sixth; Acevedo got thing started with an RBI single. Matt Christian hit into a fielder's choice, but due to a throwing error to the plate, Pajer scored safely. Mason continued to swing a hot bat with an RBI single. Then Jakob Woods joined in on the action, having a two-RBI double into left field. Then the final run of the game came from Reardon hitting a sacrifice fly to score Mason, giving the Hawks a 14-1 lead. The game was concluded in the seventh inning due to run-rule with Pintaro throwing a strong five innings for the Hawks, only giving up three hits, one run, and striking out seven.
Game 2: The Hawks went behind senior arm Taylor Boisclair, who picked up his fourth win on the season.
The Warhawks struck first in the second game of the doubleheader; Joseph Hartsfield had an RBI single, scoring Mario Galloway in the top of the second. Christian had an answer for the Hawks in the bottom of the fourth with a solo home run. The Warhawks responded in the top of the fifth, as Corey Armstrong reached safely on an error that allowed Quinterrious Arrington to score. The Hawks tied the game back up in the bottom of the fifth, Justin Barnes hit into a double play, but it allowed Woods to score. The Hawks flexed their muscles as Pajer hit a solo home run to the left, and in the same inning, Christian hit a solo home run to the left. The game's final run comes across in the bottom of the seventh, as Pajer hit an RBI double, scoring Barnes to give the Hawks the lead 5-2. Boisclair pitched a strong 7.1 innings for the Hawks, allowing only two tuns and striking out four. Kevin Ludden came in to shut the door, earning his sixth save of the season.
The Hawks will look to continue their winning ways tomorrow, as they have a single game at noon.
