MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. — A seven‑run outburst in the bottom of the first inning set the tone early as Hilbert College Baseball powered past Canton, 9–6, on Wednesday evening at Griffith Field. The Hawks opened the game with six straight baserunners and never relinquished control, securing the victory behind an 11‑hit offensive showing and steady work on the mound from starter
Alex Rumfola.
Canton struck first with two runs in the top of the opening frame, but Hilbert responded immediately and emphatically.
Jude Khoury's leadoff single ignited the inning, and after a wild pitch and another single, the Hawks quickly had two runners aboard. A sacrifice fly from
Joey Haynes put Hilbert on the board before RBI singles from
Dustin Hendrix and a bases‑loaded hit‑by‑pitch pushed the Hawks ahead.
Alex Ellison drove a double into the gap to score three more, and
Chase Porter added an RBI single to cap the seven‑run inning.
Hilbert kept the pressure on in the second as
Patrick Evans reached on a single and advanced on an error, eventually scoring on a sacrifice fly from Hendrix to extend the lead to 8–2. In the third, Khoury delivered again, this time with a ground‑rule double to left that plated
Reed Lesmeister and pushed the Hawks' lead to 9–2.
Canton put together a three‑run rally in the fourth, stringing together four hits, including a two‑run double to cut the deficit to 9–5. The Roos added another run in the seventh on a groundout,
David Alessi kept them off the board the rest of the way. Rumfola earned the win with five innings of work, scattering nine hits and allowing four earned runs while striking out four. Alessi closed the door with four steady innings in relief, allowing only two hits and one run without issuing a walk.
Khoury led the Hawks with a three‑hit day, including two doubles and two RBI while scoring once. Haynes and Hendrix each drove in runs on sacrifice flies, and Ellison provided a three‑run double in the opening inning. Lesmeister reached base three times, adding a hit, walk, and hit‑by‑pitch while also swiping a base. Hilbert also turned three double plays defensively.
UP NEXT:
The Hawks return to Griffith Field tomorrow at noon for a matchup against RPI
