By By SCOTT COOPER - Sports Writer
The Jefferson Davis Warhawks' baseball season continues to be marked by up-and-down play.
The Warhawks entered an April 15 conference double-header against Enterprise State Community College on the heels of three straight wins and looking to continue the positive momentum with a couple more victories. But, the visitors spoiled the Warhawks' plans by returning home with a twin bill sweep.
With the losses, JDCC stands at 15-23 on the season and 6-10 within the conference.
Enterprise 3, Warhawks 2
Despite a strong opening-game performance by starting pitcher Ben Glass, the Warhawks' bats failed to produce enough offense to prevent a JDCC loss.
Although Glass surrendered only six base hits to the Enterprise batters, the Warhawks were able to muster but five hits in a 3-2 loss.
While JDCC was having a tough time getting untracked offensively, Enterprise State scored a run in each of the first three innings for a 3-0 lead.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, the Warhawks' bats showed signs of life. Steven Walls reached on a single before moving to third on consecutive passed balls. Walls then moved home on Eli Himes' sacrifice fly to cut the Enterprise advantage to 3-1.
With Glass in rhythm on the mound and shutting-down the Enterprise offense, the Warhawks continued in their efforts to overtake the lead.
A sixth-inning rally that was highlighted by Leon Brasington and John Huval base hits pulled JDCC within a run, 3-2, as the two teams entered the seventh and final inning.
After Glass once again sat-down the Enterprise State batters in the top half of the seventh, the Warhawks had runners in scoring position in the bottom of the inning. However, the clutch hit that was needed to produce a run failed to materialize and Enterprise exited with the win.
Pacing the Warhawks offensively were Bo Keahey, 2-for-3; Eli Himes, 1-for-2 with one RBI and John Huval, 1-for-2 with one RBI.
Enterprise 12, Warhawks 0
After escaping with a narrow win in the opener, Enterprise State received a dominant performance from the mound and relentlessly pounded the ball on offense while handing the Warhawks a 12-0 loss.
With two singles and two doubles in the top of the first inning, the visitors wasted little time building a 3-0 lead.
JDCC responded in the bottom of the first with a rally that appeared promising. With one out, John Hasty drew a walk before moving to third on Steven Cadenhead's double. But, the Enterprise pitcher recorded two straight strikeouts that ended the Warhawks' threat.
With four hits that accounted for four more runs in the top of the second, Enterprise State assumed complete control of the game while pushing the lead to 7-0.
After a two-run homer in the third inning gave Enterprise a 9-0 advantage, the visitors closed out the scoring by pushing three runners across the plate in the top of the fourth.
Steven Cadenhead went 2-for-2 to lead the Warhawks' offense.