Hurricanes Split With Mars Hill On Opening Day

Hurricanes Split With Mars Hill On Opening Day

AMERICUS - Junior pitcher Jordan McIlwain threw five scoreless innings in the opening game of Saturday afternoon's doubleheader to help guide the Georgia Southwestern baseball team to a 2-0 win, but Mars Hill University earned a split by defeating GSW in the nightcap, 10-2, at Hurricane Stadium.

It was opening day for GSW while Mars Hill entered the weekend 1-0. 

The schools wrap up their series on Sunday at 1 p.m.

GAME 1: GSW 2, MARS HILL 0

GSW scored a run in the second inning and another in the third to put the Lions behind early.

Josh Logan knocked in the first Hurricane run of the season with a single to right that scored Zach Barron.

Dakota Long brought home Evan Alderman with a single to center in the third. Alderman opened the frame with a stand-up triple. 

McIlwain made way for Matt Hubbard after scattering three hits, walking a batter and striking out two. Hubbard was outstanding during his two innings on the hill. He walked two and struck out five. Jarrod Crum threw a scoreless eighth inning before Mitch Holloway came on for the save. Mars Hill put two runners on to start the inning and following a sacrifice bunt, Holloway recorded a strikeout and Barron made a nice play in the hole at shortstop to secure the win.  

Logan and Will Redding had two hits apiece to lead GSW.

Matt Honeycutt and Hunter Merrill had two hits apiece for Mars Hill.

Starter Alec Bivens took the loss for Mars Hill. Bivens threw four innings, allowed seven hits and both runs while striking out four. Jared Mathewson kept GSW off the board for three innings, gave up one hit, walked four and struck out two. Caleb Edwards tossed a scoreless eighth inning.

GAME 2: GSW 2, MARS HILL 10 (7 INN.)

The GSW pitching staff matched its walk total from Game 1 in the first inning of Game 2 and Mars Hill capitalized on the Hurricanes miscues by pushing six men across the plate to start the nightcap. 

The Lions added a run in the second inning to put GSW in a 7-0 hole.

Bradley Hough brought home Alex Kranick in the third inning with a single to right field for the Hurricanes first run of game.

Mars Hill scored twice in the fifth inning before GSW plated its final run of the day in the bottom half of the fifth. Barron drove in Alderman with a single right.

Dylan Brown struggled on the mound for GSW in his first appearance of the year. Brown had to exit after 2/3 of an inning. Coty Graham held Mars Hill to a run over his three innings of work and struck out five. Andrew Patrick allowed two runs over 1 1/3 innings and A.J. Hayes closed things out for the Hurricanes. Hayes looked good over his two innings on the mound, recording five strikeouts while be charged for one unearned run.  

Zac Brown picked up the win for Mars Hill. Brown threw the first four innings, allowed one run, walked one and struck out six. Kaleb McCurry earned the three-inning save, held GSW to one hit and one run, walked two and struck out three.