Stevens Propels Tide to Shut-Out Win Over Hawks

By: JASON PIGOTT

The Maroon Tide picked up their first division victory of the 2005 campaign with a 6-0 win over the Hancock Hawks.  The frigid weather coupled with the opening round of the NCAA Basketball tournament kept many from attending the game.  Those that did show up to support the Maroon and Gray were treated to a pitching performance nothing short of dominating.

Senior, Heath Stevens displayed why he is one of the State's best pitchers.  He retired the Hawks in order in each of the first three innings and only faced one batter over the minimum through 6 innings of work.  Stevens bid for a no-hitter went up in smoke with two outs in the 7th.  With a runner at first base, Hawks SS Brad McGlade reached base on an infield single between SS and 3B.  Tide SS Scott Parish was able to get a glove on the ground ball but had no play and wisely held the ball. 

That would be the only blemish of a near perfect performance by Stevens.  He finished the game by only facing 24 Hancock batters (a mere 3 batters over the minimum), allowed one hit and struck out 10. Only one ball reached the outfield and that was the fly ball off the bat of Hawks 1B Micah Mitchell to Hughes in right field - the game's final out.  It was Stevens third consecutive complete game win over Hancock dating back to last season. 

Offensively, the Tide scored a run in the 2nd inning on a Hoyt Hughes single that plated Garrard who had previously reached on a walk and had then stolen second base.  In the 4th inning the Tide would pull away by scoring four runs on three hits and aided by two Hancock Hawk errors.  Game 2 of 3 in the regular season series between the two schools will take place Friday in Hancock beginning at 7PM.