WEST POINT, Ga. – If the first two contests of its 2015 season are any indication, the Martin Methodist Baseball team is in store for a fun campaign as it won a pair of games at Point (Ga.) University by three combined runs Friday afternoon.
After hanging on for a 7-6 victory in the first contest of the afternoon, the RedHawks (2-0) used their offense to rally past the Skyhawks (0-2) in the nightcap as they scored two runs in the top of the seventh for a 6-4 win.
Leading 4-1 in the bottom of the fifth, the RedHawks allowed three runs to see the Skyhawks tie the contest at four runs apiece. The teams would post scoreless frames in the sixth before the RedHawks broke free in the seventh.
Brodie Jeffery led off the inning when he reached base via a Skyhawk error and came in to score just one batter later on Seth Staggs RBI single. After an Evan Fergerson groundout, the Skyhawks walked Pat Lecroy to set up a possible inning-ending double play, but Jacob Kirkwood laced a grounder that allowed Staggs to come in for the insurance run.
The insurance would not be needed, however, as reliever Morgan Wilson pitched a near-perfect bottom half of the frame to record the first victory of his RedHawk career (1-0). The junior allowed a two-out double to give the Skyhawks a glimmer of hope, but then slammed the door shut with a strikeout to give the RedHawks their second win of the day.
Fergerson had the hot bat for the RedHawks as the senior drove in four of the club's 13 runs scored on the day. Brodie Jeffery also provided a spark for the RedHawks on the basepaths as the senior came around to score four times on the day, including the aforementioned winning run in the nightcap.
Game 1
Martin Methodist 7, Point (Ga.) 6:
In the opener, the RedHawks capitalized on six Skyhawk errors early and then hung on during a late rally as they claimed the one-run victory to start their 2015 season.
The RedHawks scored runs in their first three innings of the day, but the Skyhawks responded with a pair of their own to see Martin Methodist take a 3-2 lead into the fifth inning.
In the fifth and sixth, the RedHawks added two runs in each frame to build a 7-2 advantage just three outs away from victory. But a shaky relief effort from Jake Shadix saw the Skyhawks score four runs and even put the possible winning run in scoring position.
Left-hander Owen Blackwelder was tabbed to replace Shadix and allowed two runs and one hit, but forced a bases-loaded double play to end the ballgame and give the RedHawks the win. Blackwelder's save marked the first of 2015 and just the second of the senior's career.
Blake Beavers lasted six innings to pick up the victory (1-0) for the RedHawks. The junior sprinkled five hits throughout his six innings of work and allowed just two earned runs in the win.
The two victories marked the first 2-0 start to a season for the RedHawks since the 2007 campaign that saw the club jump out to a 4-0 start and win 10 of their first 12 contests.
The RedHawks will close their three-game set against the Skyhawks at 11 a.m. CST. Blake Beavers (1-0) is expected to return to the mound for the RedHawks, but Zack Brewer (0-0) could also be tabbed as the Game 3 starter.
