MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Baseball dropped a 2-1 decision to No. 18 Auburn Montgomery in its final game of the weekend trip to Alabama. Early runs paved the way for the victory as the Bears (2-5) were unable to score over the final eight innings despite the fact that they outhit the Warhawks (5-4) 7-3 over the nine inning game.
After getting a first inning run off of AUM starter Daniel Farrer, the Warhawks starter did not allow another run over his six innings of work. His start paved the way for the Warhawks bullpen to pitch the final three innings in which they conceded just three walks during that time. Nolan West (1-1) got the start on the hill for the Bears and pitched three-plus innings on the mound. He allowed the two runs on just two hits but also walked two and hit a batter during his time. Jordan Williams came on in relief in the fourth and allowed just one hit in his five scoreless innings while striking out four and walking two during that time.
Shawnee State struck in the top of the first after back-to-back singles by Todd Queener and Joe Henderson put runners on first and second. A groundout to third moved the runners into scoring position and Colin Keim would bring the game's first run home on the RBI groundout to score Queener before stranding the other runner on third.
AUM would answer right back with a single and stolen base to start the bottom half of the first. That leadoff runner would advance to third after SSU had to throw down to first on a dropped third strike and that runner would score on the RBI groundout to short, tying the game at one.
The Warhawks scored their second and final run of the game after a leadoff walk to start the bottom of the third. After a fly to left put one away, the runner stole second with one out. A West strikeout put two down but AUM would bring home the eventual game-winning run on a two-out RBI double into left field.
Shawnee State had its best chances to tie the game in the fifth and eighth innings when it put a pair of runners on in both innings. After two quick outs in the fifth, singles by Mitchell Lendenski and Queener were quickly nullified by a Hughes strikeout. In the eighth, a Queener walk and Henderson single put runners on second and third with one out after a succesful Cody Spires' sacrifice bunt.
However, the Warhawks went to Britt Wilson who got the next batter to strikeout before inducing the groundout to escape to jam. He would allow a leadoff walk to start the ninth before getting the next three batters in order to record the save.
The Bears will be back in action next Saturday, February 16 at Union College for a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. Next Sunday, they will finish that series with a single game against Union in another 1 p.m. start.
