MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The Auburn University at Montgomery Warhawks baseball team (6-15, GSC: 2-10) dropped game two of its series against the Mississippi College Choctaws (13-10, GSC: 8-4) 9-3 before turning around and winning game three 7-5 behind a late offensive rally.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Game One; AUM: 3; MC: 9
Both AUM and Mississippi College went scoreless during the first inning. The Choctaws were the first to score, as Alex Johnson scored off a bases-loaded walk, putting the visiting team ahead 1-0. The center fielder Ty Murphy crossed the plate next and stretched the lead to 2-0. 
 
AUM's offense remained quiet in the first four innings of game one, finally breaking through in the bottom of the fifth. The short stop, Tucker Burns, singled up the middle and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. Kyle Hipp doubled down the right field line to drive in Burns and trimmed the deficit to 2-1. 
 
The sixth inning remained scoreless for both sides. 
Mississippi College started the seventh inning with a pair of walks from, putting runners on first and second. A single gave the Choctaws a 3-1 lead. Designated hitter, Johnson, delivered a three-run homer, putting Mississippi College ahead 6-1. The visiting team managed a triple later in the inning, but the Warhawks' defense held, limiting any further damage.

AUM was held scoreless in the bottom of the seventh and Mississippi College left two on base without scoring in the top of the eighth. On the Warhawks' side, Kurt Kizer singled, and Christopher McNeill reached on a fielding error. Luke Turner doubled to left field, driving in both McNeill and Kizer for two more points, cutting the lead in half at 6-3. 

Mississippi College made a final push in the ninth. The Choctaws launched a three-run homer, bringing the Choctaws to 9-3. AUM could not respond in the bottom of the ninth, as Mississippi College took game one of the double header with a final score of 9-3. 

Game One Notables
Luke Turner went 1-for-4 with 2 RBIs, including a clutch double in the 8th inning that drove in two runs.

Kyle Hipp was 1-for-3 with an RBI double in the 5th inning, scoring Tucker Burns for AUM's first run of the game.

Kurt Kizer contributed with a 1-for-3 performance, scored a run, reached base via hit by pitch 

The Warhawks totaled 7 hits with 3 runs and 3 RBIs, drawing 1 walk and earning 1 hit by pitch.
AUM pitchers combined for 12 strikeouts and limited Mississippi College to 9 runs on 13 hits.



Game Two; AUM: 7; MC: 5 (7 Inn.)
A scoreless first inning took the game to the top of the second frame where the Choctaws plated three runs behind Creek Robertson's three-RBI double.
 
The Warhawks took one back in the bottom of the third when Ryan Revera notched a base hit to open the frame. Brice Ainsworth's sacrifice bunt advanced the runner to second and set up Kurt Kizer's base hit. A throwing error on the Choctaw's short stop brought Revera in to score, putting the Warhawks on the board.
 
Two innings later, Ainsworth roped a single up the middle with Chance Sweeny on second base. Sweeny was able to use his speed to score and cut the difference to 3-2.
 
With AUM trailing by one heading into the bottom of the sixth frame, the Warhawks knew they had to make something happen. Base hits from McNeill and Burns and a walk from Revera loaded the bases. This set the stage for Chance Sweeny's sacrifice fly to even the score at three runs apiece. Revera worked a walk before Ainsworth stepped up to the plate and drilled two-RBI single through the right side to score Hipp and Burns, putting AUM in front, 5-3. AUM's offense continued to thrive, adding two more runs on Kurt Kizer's two-RBI single to right field.
 
Mississippi College's Jake LaRocca knocked a two-run homer out of the park, however, Jackson Reed handled the next two batter, securing the 7-5 victory for the orange and black.
 
 
Notables
Drew Cashin earned the win after tossing 6.0 inning of work with eight punches while holding opponents to four runs, four hits, and a pair of walks.
 
Kurt Kizer went 3-for-4 at the plate while bringing in two RBI.
 
Brice Ainsworth took two hits on three at-bats and added three RBI and a run.
 
McNeill, Burns, and Revera each added a hit to the Warhawks offensive efforts.


 
Up Next
The AUM baseball team will travel to Dahlonega, Georgia to play against North Georgia on Tuesday, March 10, with the first pitch set for 4 pm. 
 
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