Feb. 25, 2008

Rome, Ga. - Finishing up a three-game series at the Robert H. Ledbetter Complex, Shorter won two-of-three contests against the Lions and improved their record to 7-7, following a 7-6 win on Sunday afternoon.

Ahead 6-3 heading into the top of the ninth, the Hawks committed a pair of errors that allowed Emmanuel to tie the game at 6-6.

Then after placing runners in scoring position in the bottom of the frame, a collision at first caused a throw from third to roll out into the corner and allow former Pepperell standout Jake Broome to score.

"I feel like we could be playing better ball right now," Shorter coach Matt Larry said. "We're just making a lot of mental mistakes when we shouldn't be."

JP Griffin got the win on the mound for the Hawks after coming on in relief of Trey Carnes in the sixth. Griffin, a Macon native, is now 2-0 this season.

"J.P. has become kind of our go-to guy in tight situations," Larry said of the pitcher, who ended the top of the ninth with a big strikeout with runners on second and third.

"He could have lost his cool but he didn't," Larry said. "All of our guys could have lost their cool there at the end but they calmed down and finished the game."

Shorter fought back from a 3-0 deficit to tie the game at 3-all with a three-run third.

The Hawks tacked on two more in the fourth and another in the sixth to give them the 6-3 advantage.

Mark Charrette picked up a double and a triple for Shorter.

The Hawks are on the road Tuesday for a non-conference contest with Trevecca Nazarene in Nashville, Tenn.

They then return home for a three-game weekend series against cross-town rival Berry College that begins with a game on Friday at 2 p.m.