February 17, 2006
Seven-run seventh gives Huntingdon 11-3 victory over Monarchs
Spivey goes 3-for-5 in first Monarch defeat of 2006 season

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – A seven-run rally in the seventh inning proved to be the difference on Friday as the Hawks of Huntingdon handed Methodist its first defeat of the 2006 baseball season, 11-3 at Posey Field. Methodist is now 2-1 overall on the season.

Huntingdon clinged to a 4-3 lead until the seventh, when it unraveled for the Monarchs. Taylor Files had a two-run single during the rally, while Brandon Harris, Matt Jackson and Jake Baker also had RBI singles in the inning as the Hawks sent 12 batters to the plate in the inning.

Methodist took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first as Jonathan Spivey singled, stole second and scored when Jason Hughes walked with the bases loaded. After Huntingdon tied the game in the bottom of the first, Methodist regained a 2-1 lead in the second as Andy Redman scored on Matt Hunt’s sacrifice bunt.

The Monarchs scored their final run in the fifth as Hunt singled, moved to second on an error, stole third and then scored on Matt Mergo’s groundout to second.

Spivey went 3-for-5 for Methodist, while Casey Varnell was the losing pitcher, allowing four runs on four hits in four-and-two-thirds innings. Files went 3-for-4 with three RBIs for Huntingdon (3-0), while Harris went 2-for-4 and Jackson and Robby Preston both went 2-for-5. Baker went the distance for the complete game, scattering six hits with six strikeouts.

Methodist plays the first of a two-game series at LaGrange on Saturday at 1 p.m.