By Joshua J. Darling, Sports Information Director
LAGRANGE, Ga. – No. 19/22 LaGrange (25-13, 11-5 CCS) could not overcome a 6-1 deficit as they dropped a critical 6-4 decision to Huntingdon (23-10, 9-5 CCS) in an NCAA Division III baseball game on Friday, April 28.
That game will factor into the inaugural regular season championship of the Collegiate Conference of the South (CCS) as the Panthers must now win the final two games of the series to earn their sixth straight league title. And those final two games will now be a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 29 due to severe weather expected on what was going to be the final day of the set.
The change in schedule also impacts Senior Day, which will now be held at 12:40 p.m. in advance of the first game of the twinbill.
In a matchup of the two front runners for that title it would be a pitcher's duel over the first four innings. In that span the clubs would combine for four hits – all by LaGrange – before the Hawks erupted in the top of the fifth. In that frame they would bang out three hits, highlighted by a two-RBI single by Noah Phillips and an RBI double from Hall Billings, to take a 3-0 lead.
Senior designated hitter Jared Aldridge (Carrollton, Ga.) got the Panthers on the board in the home half of the sixth when he belted a solo home to left center but Huntingdon would respond in force in the top of the seventh. That would take the form of an RBI double by Daniel Phillips, a balk and an RBI single by Matthew Robinson that extended to a 6-1 advantage.
LaGrange would answer right back with three runs of their own in the bottom of the frame as a single and a pair of walks loaded the bases with one out. Senior third baseman Joe Ruth (Chiefland, Fla.) then ripped a two-RBI single to right and another free pass reloaded the bases for Aldridge. He would work yet another walk, this one to plate a run and cut it to 6-4 before a pop up stemmed the tide and allowed HC to escape further damage.
Neither team would threaten in the eighth but the Panthers would put the first two batters on via singles. It would be to no avail, however, as Hawks pitching bore down to induce a pop up then struck out the final two batters to come away with a two-run victory that kept them alive for the regular season title.
Noah Phillips led Huntingdon with a pair of RBIs and Billings was 2-for-4 with a double and RBI. Daniel Phillips also banged a double for and RBI and Colin Whibbs had the other RBI. Parker Szush threw 6.2 innings, allowing four runs to get the win and move to 4-0 while Seth Killam picked up his third save behind a scoreless 2.1 innings.
Ruth anchored the LaGrange offense, going 2-for-5 with a pair of RBIs and Aldridge drove home two with plays at the opposite ends of the spectrum – a homerun and a bases loaded walk. Freshman outfielder Curt Bonner (Cartersville, Ga.) finished at 2-for-4 with a run and a walk and senior catcher David Smigelski (Canton, Ga.) added a 2-for-4 day. Junior pitcher Ethan Fry (Kennesaw, Ga.) started and went 6.2, surrendering six runs against five strikeouts to suffer the loss and drop to 4-3.
UP NEXT
The Panthers are now set up for a winner-take-all doubleheader with Huntingdon tomorrow, Saturday, April 29. First pitch of the first game is slated for 1 p.m. with the nightcap and regular season finale following at approximately 4 p.m. Based upon determinations from the CCS, LaGrange would need to win both for the regular season crown while the Hawks would just need to earn a split.
