ROME, Ga. – The Shorter Hawks spilt a doubleheader with the University of Montevallo Falcons on Saturday afternoon at the Robert H. Ledbetter Baseball Complex. The Hawks fell 12-7 in game one and then defeated the Falcons 8-1 in the nightcap.
 
The Hawks are now 16-11 on the season and 9-7 in Gulf South Conference (GSC) play. The Falcons are now 21-8 on the season and 7-6 in GSC play.
 
Game 1, Shorter falls 12-7
 
The Hawks fell 12-7 in game one of today's doubleheader.
 
Tyler McWillie (L, 2-1) started for the Hawks in game one today and had three strikeouts in the top of the first inning. He went on to have one more strikeout while surrendering five runs on three hits and four walks in four innings pitched.
 
Shorter struck first in game one today and plated the first run in the home half of the first. Cory Mason singled through the ride side to score Jacob Pajer.
 
The Hawks then plated an additional run in the bottom of the second. Pajer doubled to right center, and this scored Isaac Harkins.
 
The score remained 2-0 Shorter until the top of the fourth when Montevallo plated its first three runs of the day courtesy of a three-run home run from Reed Latimer to take the lead.
 
Matt Christian hit a solo home run in his second at bat of the season in the home half of the fourth to tie the game. However, the Falcons scored four runs in the top of the fifth to take the lead back.
 
The Hawks came within two after plating two additional runs in the bottom of the fifth. Christian reached first on an error by the Montevallo second baseman, and this scored Norman Leon. Shortly after this, Pajer walked with the bases loaded, and this scored Justin Barnes. The score was 7-5 Montevallo after this inning.
 
Montevallo plated five additional runs in the top of the eighth. Three of these runs came from a three-run home run.
 
Shorter plated two more runs in game one. Cameron Tilly hit a home run in the home half of the eighth, and Harkins singled to left center in the bottom of the ninth to score Donavan Frayer.
 
Harkins went 4-for-5 with a run scored and an RBI. Pajer went 3-for-5 with a run scored, two RBI and a walk. Tilly went 2-for-5 with a run scored and an RBI. Leon went 2-for-5 with a run scored.
 
Game 2, Shorter wins 8-1
 
Shorter defeated Montevallo 8-1 in game two of this afternoon's doubleheader.
 
Jonathan Pintaro (W, 6-2) started for the Hawks in game two. He pitched the entire seven innings, striking out 10 and giving up one run on four hits.
 
On a windy afternoon at the field, the Hawks used the wind to their advantage, and six of Shorter's eight runs in game two came from home runs. There were four solo home runs and one two-run home run.
 
The Falcons struck first in game two and plated a run in the top of the first.
 
The Hawks quickly took the lead in the home half of the first. Donavan Frayer and Cameron Tilly had back-to-back solo home runs. Frayer's home run was his first of the season.
 
Cameron Tilly and Cory Mason then went back-to-back with solo home runs in the bottom of the third.
 
Isaac Harkins hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the fourth. This was his first home run of the season. Shortly after this, Mason singled through the ride to score Jacob Pajer in this inning.
 
Shorter plated its final run of game two in the bottom of the fifth. Justin Barnes doubled down the left field line to score Norman Leon.
 
Leon went 2-for-3 with two runs scored in game two. Barnes went 2-for-3 with an RBI. Tilly went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBI. Mason went 2-for-4 with a run scored and two RBI. Frayer went 2-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI.
 
Up Next
 
The Hawks will conclude the series with Montevallo tomorrow. First pitch is set for noon at the Ledbetter Baseball Complex.