Such was the case in Game 2 of a doubleheader between Howard College’s Hawks and Clarendon College’s Bulldogs Thursday at Jack Barber Field. The teams combined to score 38 total runs in a 17-11 Howard victory.

“Clarendon is a very good offensive team,” Hawks Head Coach Britt Smith said. “We knew that coming in just by looking at their numbers. We rank 1-2 in the nation in team offense. Their hitting around .460 as a team. They don’t have the power numbers we do, but that doesn’t mean they can’t hit. We knew it was going to be a battle. We just happened to score more on our hits.”

The Bulldogs high-octane offensive attack failed them in Game 1, though, as Howard pitchers Anthony Collazo and David de la Chapelle combined to hold Clarendon to four runs in a 14-4 Howard victory that ended in the sixth inning due to the 10-run mercy rule.

“Anthony had a real shaky start, but the offense kind of set the ton in the first inning and settled him down,” Smith said. “Clarendon came in with one loss and hadn’t played from behind very much this season. They didn’t know how to respond to that. They’re a very good club, though, and we’ve got our work cut out for us Friday.”

De la Chapelle picked up the victory in Game 1, pitching the first 1-1/3 innings.

Chase Adams was Howard’s Game 2 winning pitcher, lasting five innings and surrendering eight runs — seven earned — on 13 hits. James Alvarado relieved Adams in the sixth and pitched through the ninth inning, giving up three runs on three hits.

Meanwhile, Clarendon used seven pitchers with only one of them lasting more than an inning. Howard blasted the Bulldogs for eight runs in the first in response to a Clarendon 3-run performance in the opening frame.

The Hawks added another six runs in the second as Clarendon used two different pitchers just to get through the onslaught.

However, leading 15-4 after adding another run in the third, the Hawks bats cooled off, giving Clarendon an opportunity to gain ground. The Bulldogs pulled to as close as four runs in the top of the seventh, 15-11, but Howard answered with two more runs in the bottom of the frame and Alvarado recorded six straight outs to end the game.

Miles Hamblin led Howard at the plate, belting a home run in the first and second innings. Hamblin finished with three RBIs on 4-for-5 hitting. Travis Sample went 3-for-4 with three runs scored and two RBIs.

All that remains on Howard’s schedule are conference games, which continues at noon today with another doubleheader against Clarendon.

“Coming into conference play, I thought that New Mexico JC and Clarendon were going to be the top two teams,” Smith said. “After seeing both of those clubs to start the season, I think I was right. They’re both very talented and are going to be a challenge for us all season.”