Huntingdon has been very hot or ice cold to start the season. The Mustangs suffered a 6-1 loss at Humboldt last Monday, defeated visiting Westview 6-1 on Wednesday and then struggled through a 7-0 loss at JCM on Thursday.

In the opener, starting pitcher Brian Nellett cracked an RBI double, which scored Will White.

At the Kelley Complex on Wednesday, the Mustangs evened their record at 1-1 with a 6-1 victory over the Westview Chargers. Winning pitcher Matt Spellings struck out 11 and doubled. Will White homered, scored twice and drove in a pair of runs in a 2-4 day. Adam Parish doubled and scored three runs.

On Thursday at Jackson Central-Merry, the Mustangs committed six errors in the shutout loss.

The Mustangs return to action in the St. Jude Classic at Dresden's Wilson Park. Huntingdon battles Henry County 4 p.m. Wednesday, then Obion Central 4 p.m. Friday.

It wasn't one of those scalding ear chewings, but rather a calm "let's air it out" clatches. The discussion focused on the need for throwing strikes, hitting spots and everyone being on the same page.

Whatever was said must have worked.

The Bethel Wildcat baseball team pounded out 13 hits on Thursday afternoon in defeating local rival Lambuth University 10-6. This was the same Lambuth team that defeated Division 1 Tennessee-Martin 13-1 in a two-hit effort on Wednesday.

Hayes isn't sure what has prompted the offensive outburst and solid defense during this three-game winning streak, but he isn't ruling out the fireside chat he had with his battery mates.
"We've had three great performances since then," Hayes said. "They sure have responded."

The Wildcats have been staying ahead in the count and, consequently, on the scoreboard.

"We've seen a little different attitude from our pitchers and our catchers; we're throwing strikes and hitting spots," the coach said. "We'll be able to tell this week if we're still doing the same things."

Bethel hosted Rhodes College for a noon doubleheader on Tuesday and will open KIAC play with a three-game Friday-Saturday set against Indiana Southeast. Christian Brothers comes to town for a single game on March 30. The good news is that the games are at home; the bad news is that they are all against tough opponents.

"But I love a challenge and I love for the guys to be challenged," said Hayes. "We play a real tough stretch."

The Cats recorded a three spot in the top of the first capped off by a 2-run homer by Dan Hall. Matt Retherford also jacked a two run homerun in the top of the fourth, giving Bethel a 6-1 lead. Lambuth mounted a late rally, but Kyle Rogers relieved starter Josh Langely in the eighth inning to shut down the Eagles.

Langely (3-4) picked up the win, pitching 7.0 innings, allowing eight hits, five earned runs and striking out four.

Shaine Thurman was 2-of-4 from the plate with four runs batted in and one run scored. Retherford was 2-for-5 with two RBIs and three runs scored. Oakey Gaskill and Jared Searcy each had two hits for the Wildcats.

After struggling to start the season, perhaps this victory could be the catalyst to bigger things.

"We hope so. I mean, when we play Lambuth, Freed or CBU, we expect to win," Hayes said. "We started the season playing ranked teams and we're not going to see anything tougher the rest of the season than what we've played already; we've made progress since the beginning of the year and we are a much better team."

Bethel improves to 9-14-2 on the season.