Welch’s two home runs and six RBIs help spark Huntingdon softball

JACKSON, Miss. – Sophomore Lauren Welch hit two home runs and drove in six runs to help lead the Huntingdon softball team in a sweep of Millsaps on Sunday. The Lady Hawks won the first game 9-4 in eight innings and took the second game 10-5.

A Welch fielder's choice scored Bree Giordana to force the extra inning in Game 1 and her two-run homer sparked a seven-run burst in the eighth inning. In Game 2, Welch's three-run homer helped Huntingdon (12-7) close out the game in the top of the seventh.

Behind Welch, Aleah Payne and Holly Ostrander each had three RBIs in the two games. Payne was 4-for-9 on the day and scored three runs. Ostrander was 3-for-8 and scored four runs.

Melissa McClure (4-3) pitched all eight innings to pick up the first win. Giordana (7-4) went seven innings to get the win in Game 2.

In Game 1, tied 2-2 in the eighth inning, Ostrander bunted to score Jenna Rimensnyder. Payne made it 4-2 when she scored on a Kristi Taylor sacrifice bunt. A Giordana double made it 5-2 before Welch hit her first home run. Brittany Richardson and Ashley Johnson scored the final two runs on a Millsaps error.

A Hayley Praytor single brought in Huntingdon's first run of the game.

In Game 2, Huntingdon broke a 5-5 tie with five runs in the top of the seventh. Rimensnyder tripled to lead off the inning and scored on a Payne single. Payne scored on an Ostrander single before Welch belted her three-run homer run to cap the Lady Hawks' scoring.

Earlier in Game 2, Payne stole home and Praytor had an RBI single for Huntingdon's first two runs. Trailing 4-2 in the third inning, Ostrander singled in a run. In the fourth inning, Huntingdon took a 5-4 lead on a bases-loaded walk and a Rimensnyder sacrifice fly.

Huntingdon plays a doubleheader at Mississippi College on Tuesday. Game 1 is set for 2 p.m.