MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The Auburn University at Montgomery Warhawks baseball team (11-30, GSC: 6-21) dropped a pair of close games to the Union Bulldogs (17-23, GSC: 9-18) on Saturday evening.
 

HOW IT HAPPENED
Game One; AUM 5; Union 8
Union threatened early in the opening inning, putting runners on base with a single and two walks, while also swiping a base to move into scoring position. However, the Warhawks worked out of the jam, stranding three runners to keep the game scoreless.

In the second inning, Union capitalized on a pair of Warhawk errors to take the early lead, making it 2-0.

AUM immediately answered in the bottom half of the inning as first baseman Kyle Hipp launched his eighth home run of the season to left field, cutting the deficit to 2-1.

Union added another run in the third inning behind a double to right field from catcher Canyon Pace, which plated a run and extended the lead to 3-1.

The Warhawks responded in a big way in the bottom of the third. After Christopher McNeill and Cannon Miller worked walks to reach base, Luke Turner delivered the biggest swing of the game, crushing a three-run home run to left field to give AUM its first lead at 4-3.

Union threatened again in the fourth, putting two runners in scoring position, but Griffin Stewart came to the mound, delivering back-to-back strikeouts to maintain the lead for the Warhawks. 

AUM added an insurance run in the fifth inning. Cannon Miller reached first and stole second before shortstop Tucker Burns delivered an RBI single to right center, pushing the lead to 5-3.

The Bulldogs responded in the sixth inning, tying the game at 5-5 after Elijah Ramsey connected on a two-run home run to left field. Union took back the lead in the seventh, using a walk and hit-by-pitch to set the table before an RBI single to center field made it 6-5.

After a leadoff double in the eighth, Cody Tjomsland delivered a two-run home run to left field, extending the lead to 8-5. Union closed out the game in the ninth, retiring the side to secure the 8-5 victory.
 

Notables
Luke Turner led the offense with a three-run home run, giving AUM a 4-3 lead in the third inning. 
 
Kyle Hipp finished with two hits, including a solo home run in the second inning. 
 
Tucker Burns added a 2-for-4 performance with an RBI single in the fifth. 
 
Cannon Miller scored two runs and recorded two stolen bases, his first and second stolen bases of the season. 
 
AUM totaled five runs on seven hits in the contest and drew five walks. 
 
The Warhawks scored four unanswered runs between the second and fifth innings.
 
Defensively, the Warhawks turned one double play in the top of the second inning. 
 
AUM's pitching staff combined for six strikeouts during the contest against the Union Bulldogs. 
 



Game Two; AUM 3; Union 4 (7 Inn.)
Using its momentum from the win earlier, Union was the first on the board in game two with a first-inning RBI-double. The Bulldogs followed with three runs on two hits and an AUM misque to bump its lead to 4-0.
 
After Hipp drew a walk and McNeill singled through the right side, Brice Ainsworth ripped a two-RBI single to put the Warhawks on the board and cut its deficit to a score of 4-2 after five innings.
 
The Warhawks continued to push ahead in the bottom of the sixth inning, beginning with Burns' powerful double to lead off the frame. Alec Hotaling followed with a single through the left side, bringing Burns to third base. This set the stage for Hipps' striker through the left side that scored Burns. After Burns rounded the diamond, Casen Heaps rounded third and on a close call, was ruled out at the plate.
 
The Warhawks were unable to tie up the game in the bottom of the seventh inning, resulting in a 4-3 win for the Bulldogs.

 
Notables
Parker Wilson, Drew McCormick, and Heath Henley each pitched in relief for the Warhawks. As a group, they totaled 4.2 innings of work while holding their opponents scoreless on just three hits while walking one batter.

Kyle Hipp finished with a perfect 2-for-2 performance at the plate while scoring once, driving home a run, and drawing a walk. His sixth inning double marked his fifth of the season.

Christopher McNeill took two hits on four attempts while scoring once himself. His third inning double marked his eighth of the year.

Alec Hotaling took two hits on three at-bats.

The Warhawks out-hit the Bulldogs eight to seven. 


Up Next
The Warhawks will take on the Columbus State Cougars at 4 pm on Tuesday, April 14, in Columbus Georgia at the Burger King Stadium at Ragsdale Field. 


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