Warhawks Steal One, Drop Series to Gadsden State
Decatur, AL / Gadsden, AL — Calhoun baseball continued ACCC play this past week, dropping three of four games to Gadsden State but showing resilience throughout the series, including a hard-fought extra-inning battle and a home victory in game two. The Warhawks opened the series at home in Decatur on Thursday before traveling to Gadsden for the final two games on Saturday.
Game 1 – Gadsden State 11, Calhoun 10 (9 innings)
Calhoun battled back from a late deficit but came up just short in an extra-inning thriller.
The Warhawks jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning before Gadsden State gradually took control, building an 8-2 advantage heading into the sixth. Calhoun responded with three runs in the sixth and three more in the seventh to tie the game at 8-8 and force extra innings in what was originally scheduled as a seven-inning contest.
After the Cardinals plated three runs in the top of the ninth, Calhoun mounted one final push, scoring twice and bringing the tying run into scoring position before falling 11-10.
Seth Walton led the offense with a 2-for-4 performance that included a home run, while Gavin Gonzalez went 3-for-4 with two RBI. William Singewald added a strong showing, going 4-for-5 with an RBI.
Game 2 – Calhoun 4, Gadsden State 3
The Warhawks bounced back in game two, holding off a late push to secure a one-run victory.
After three scoreless innings, Gadsden State broke through with two runs in the fourth, but Calhoun answered immediately with four runs in the bottom half to take the lead. The Warhawks held that advantage into the final inning, where the Cardinals threatened with a run, but Calhoun closed the door to earn the win.
Josh Burrell delivered a complete-game performance on the mound, allowing just six hits while striking out six. Offensively, Calhoun got key contributions from Seth Walton, William Singewald, and JJ Smith to support the effort.
Game 3 – Gadsden State 9, Calhoun 8
With the series shifting to Gadsden, Calhoun once again showed their ability to fight back, but fell in walk-off fashion.
The Cardinals surged ahead early with eight runs in the first two innings, putting the Warhawks in a significant hole. Calhoun responded with a five-run fourth inning, added two more in the fifth, and tied the game with a run in the sixth to even the score at 8-8.
The comeback bid was halted in the bottom of the seventh, as Gadsden State pushed across the winning run to take the 9-8 victory.
JJ Smith led the offense with a 2-for-3 performance that included a home run and three RBI, while Trent Wilson went a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate. Noah Alburquerque added two hits and an RBI, and Gavin Gonzalez provided a strong effort on the mound, throwing five innings while allowing six hits.
Game 4 – Gadsden State 8, Calhoun 3
In the series finale, Calhoun once again showed fight but could not overcome an early deficit.
Gadsden State built an 8-0 lead through the first four innings and maintained control throughout. Calhoun broke through with two runs in the fifth and added another in the seventh, but was unable to generate a sustained comeback.
Adam Yazel provided the highlight for the Warhawks with a home run in the loss.
Head coach Cameron Chafetz reflected on the team's performance following the series. "We just need to be better," Chafetz said. "I like the fight our guys showed and how we stayed in games, but we can't keep putting ourselves in those situations and expect to come out on top. It's about playing a more complete game from start to finish."
Calhoun will return to action on Thursday, April 16, traveling to Wallace State for a doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m.