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AUM softball falls one spot to seventh in NAIA Top 25 poll

Submitted by Donna Wallace-King, Community Web Producer
Thursday, April 11th, 2013, 10:14am
AUM softball falls one spot to seventh in NAIA Top 25 poll

After a 3-3 week in Southern States Athletic Conference play, the Auburn Montgomery softball team dropped one spot to No. 7 in the fourth NAIA Coaches’ Top 25 poll of the season. The rankings were released prior to AUM’s doubleheader sweep of Faulkner last night.

The Warhawks (30-5, 8-4 SSAC) rebounded from an 0-2 start last week to take three out of four games over ranked opponents Belhaven and William Carey. The Blazers are 10th in this week’s poll, while the Crusaders are 12th.

Katie Spain leads AUM with a .443 batting average, 12 home runs, 43 RBIs and 11 doubles. Kayla Hale (33) and Jyssica Pepper (31) have also driven in over 30 runs. Cassie Daniels leads the pitching staff with a 13-1 record and a 1.85 ERA. She has struck out 130 batters in 94 2/3 innings.

Concordia (Calif.) held on to the top spot for the fourth consecutive week, earning 18 of 20 first place votes.

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No. 7 Warhawks score 24 runs in doubleheader sweep of Faulkner

Submitted by Donna Wallace-King, Community Web Producer
Wednesday, April 10th, 2013, 10:11am
No. 7 Warhawks score 24 runs in doubleheader sweep of Faulkner

Last week, the Auburn Montgomery softball team was swept by Faulkner, with its offense scoring just seven runs off of 15 hits in the two games combined.

In this week’s rematch, the Warhawks surpassed both of those totals in Game 1.

AUM defeated the Lady Eagles 15-0 in five innings in the opener, before holding on for a 9-5 win in the nightcap.

The Warhawks (30-5, 8-4 SSAC) have now won four straight, while Faulkner (19-13-1, 5-10-1 SSAC) dropped its sixth in a row.

“I’m extremely proud of everybody,” head coach Chris Steiner-Wilcoxson said. “Everybody stepped up and did their part to get things going today. We just have to keep pushing because it’s all conference games from here on out, and they’re always tough no matter who you play.”

AUM did all of its damage offensively in the first four innings of Game 1, highlighted by a seven-run second.

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Bearden's three-run blast lifts Warhawks past Thomas, 7-6

Submitted by Donna Wallace-King, Community Web Producer
Wednesday, April 10th, 2013, 9:59am
Bearden's three-run blast lifts Warhawks past Thomas, 7-6

Blake Bearden drove in a career-best four runs, including a go-ahead three-run homer in the seventh inning, as the Auburn Montgomery baseball team rallied for a 7-6 victory over Thomas University Tuesday.

With the win, the Warhawks improved to 25-15 on the year, while the Night Hawks fell to 19-20 overall.

Bearden recorded three of AUM’s 10 hits, while Shane Turner also had three hits. Hayden Hillyer finished 2 for 4 with a run batted in. Chad Mansmann scored twice and drove in a run.

Nathan Taylor started the game for the Warhawks, allowing three earned run and four hits in 4 1/3 innings. Chad Reeves (5-2) earned the victory by tossing 2 2/3 innings of relief, while Britt Wilson struck out the side in order of the ninth to earn his sixth save of the year. Will Ruffin also threw a scoreless inning.

After falling behind by a run after the home half of the first inning, AUM picked up a pair of runs in the bottom of the frame.

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Huntingdon softball improves to 10-0 in GSAC

Submitted by Donna Wallace-King, Community Web Producer
Monday, April 8th, 2013, 12:58pm
Huntingdon softball improves to 10-0 in GSAC

The Huntingdon softball team picked up its third conference sweep in three days with a 2-1 win and an 11-3 victory over Agnes Scott on Sunday.
 
Brittany Richardson and Jenna Rimensnyder led Huntingdon (16-8, 10-0 Great South Athletic Conference) at the plate. Richardson was 6-for-8 with one RBI and two runs on the day and Rimensnyder was 5-for-8 with two RBIs and one run in the doubleheader.
 
Huntingdon scored two runs early in Game 1 and held off the Scotties for a one-run win. A Lauren Welch triple scored Gabby Alcantar in the first inning and a solo home run by Jade Reynolds made it 2-0 in the third inning.
 
Melissa McClure earned the win, striking out five, scattering five hits, walking one and allowing one run in seven innings.

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Blackwell's 7 RBIs help Hawks complete sweep of Berry

Submitted by Donna Wallace-King, Community Web Producer
Monday, April 8th, 2013, 12:36pm
Blackwell's 7 RBIs help Hawks complete sweep of Berry

The Huntingdon baseball team got off to a strong start on Sunday. But after scoring seven runs in the first inning, the Hawks had to rally late in the game to beat Berry 15-12.
 
Trailing 11-10 with the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh, Tyler Blackwell doubled down the left-field line to bring in three runs and give the Hawks a 13-11 lead. The junior first baseman finished the day 4-for-4 with seven RBIs and two runs.
 
Neil Lawler (2-1) earned the win, pitching the final two innings of the game. Lawler struck out one, walked one, allowed one run and gave up two hits.
 
With the win, Huntingdon (20-9) completed a three-game sweep of Berry. The Hawks won 11-0 on Friday and 9-1 on Saturday. Early in Sunday’s game, it looked like Huntingdon would again put the Vikings away early.
 
Huntingdon sent 13 batters to the plate in the first inning and scored seven runs.

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Franks and Farrar throw Warhawks to doubleheader sweep of Southern Poly

Submitted by Donna Wallace-King, Community Web Producer
Monday, April 8th, 2013, 9:33am
Franks and Farrar throw Warhawks to doubleheader sweep of Southern Poly

Less than 24 hours after allowing 16 runs, the Auburn Montgomery baseball team turned to Eran Franks and Daniel Farrar on the mound and the duo did not disappoint.

The Warhawks (24-15, 11-10 SSAC) received 16 innings of one-run, nine-hit baseball from the tandem to lead the team to a sweep of visiting Southern Poly (26-14, 11-10 SSAC). AUM took the opener by a 3-0 score, while winning game two 4-1.

“We had a couple work horses step up and become thoroughbreds today in Franks and Farrar,” head coach Q.V. Lowe said. “I thought our guys played as well as they have all year. The two pitchers came ready to play and really set the tone for the whole team. We are excited to have won these two games.”

In the opener, Franks tossed a three-hit shutout, striking out three and walking one to improve to 5-4 on the season.

“We knew we had to get back on the grind today,” Franks said.

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Powell powers No.6 Warhawks to sweep of No. 10 William Carey

Submitted by Donna Wallace-King, Community Web Producer
Monday, April 8th, 2013, 9:25am
Powell powers No.6 Warhawks to sweep of No. 10 William Carey

Freshman Taylor Powell came through on both sides of the ball for the Auburn Montgomery softball team at 10th-ranked William Carey this afternoon.

Powell hit a go-ahead two-run single in the ninth inning of Game 1, leading the Warhawks to a 3-2 victory, and she helped AUM complete the sweep with seven innings of one-run ball on the mound in a 4-1 Game 2 win.

The Warhawks (28-5, 6-4 SSAC) are now 7-2 against ranked opponents this season. William Carey fell to 26-9, 12-4 in the Southern States Athletic Conference.

Cassie Daniels (12-1) limited the Crusaders to just three hits over nine innings, the longest outing of her career and her seventh complete game of the season. She allowed two runs (one earned) with two strikeouts and six walks, lowering her season ERA to 1.97.

AUM grabbed a 1-0 lead in the top of the fourth inning. Katie Spain started the rally with a two-out double down the left field line.

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