Huntingdon softball splits with conference rival Ferrum

FERRUM, Va. – The Huntingdon softball team took one game by the mercy rule and fell in extra innings in the second game of a conference doubleheader on Monday.

The Lady Hawks jumped on Ferrum College 10-2 in Game 1 before coming up short 7-5 in eight innings in the second game. The doubleheader was a battle between top three conference preseason teams.

Huntingdon (10-7, 6-2 USA South), in its first season as a member of the USA South Athletic Conference was ranked third in the preseason poll. Ferrum (9-5, 5-3 USA South), which was ranked second in the preseason poll, was the regular-season conference co-champion and the conference tournament runner-up last season.

Junior Heather McGuirk powered Huntingdon with five RBIs in the two games and senior Holly Ostrander had three RBIs, including a two-run homer in Game 1.

Ostrander's home run gave the Lady Hawks a 7-1 lead in the fourth inning. The Lady Hawks added three more runs in the sixth inning with two RBIs from McGuirk and one RBI from Ostrander.

Ostrander was 2-for-4 with three RBIs and two runs in Game 1. McGuirk had two runs to go with her two RBIs and Ashley Johnson scored two runs and drove in one run.

Halleigh DiNicholas recorded a RBI and a run, Katy Messick drove in one run and Gabby Alcantar, Lauren Welch and Tiffany Taylor each scored once.

Messick (4-1) earned the win in six innings.

In Game 2, Huntingdon took a 4-3 lead in the sixth inning and led 5-3 entering the bottom of the seventh. Ferrum tied the game in the bottom of the seventh and won with a two-run homer in the bottom of the eighth.

McGuirk was 2-for-4 with three RBIs, Alcantar was 2-for-3 with two runs and a stolen base and Welch was 2-for-4 with one RBI. Jenna Rimensnyder scored two runs and Daisha Henderson scored once.

Kaitlynn Wiggins (1-1) took the loss in relief.

Huntingdon returns to action at home on Tuesday against Missouri Baptist. Game 1 of the doubleheader is scheduled for 1 p.m.