Huntingdon softball splits with Averett in conference doubleheader

DANVILLE, Va. – The Huntingdon softball team dropped its first game to Averett University on Sunday but knocked off the Cougars in Game 2 to salvage a split.

Averett took the first game of the USA South Athletic Conference doubleheader 11-3 in five innings before the Hawks took the second game 7-4. Huntingdon (15-10, 11-3 USA South) is currently second in the conference standings and Averett (15-7, 9-3 USA South) is third.

In Game 1, despite being held to one hit, Huntingdon led 3-0 in the fifth inning. But Averett answered with 11 runs in the bottom of the fifth to end the game. Jenna Rimensnyder had Huntingdon's hit and scored two of the Lady Hawks' three runs in the game.

Rimensnyder, who finished the doubleheader with three runs, a RBI and four stolen bases, scored on an error in the first inning and scored on another error in the third inning to make it a 2-0 game.

Kaitlynn Wiggins scored Huntingdon's final run of the game on a RBI by Amy Caroline Riley. Katy Messick (5-2) took the loss for Huntingdon.

In Game 2, trailing 4-0, Huntingdon scored five runs in the fourth inning and two runs in the seventh. Brooke Meadows (7-3) picked up the win in seven innings, striking out seven, walking three, scattering five hits and allowing two earned runs.

Rimensnyder scored Huntingdon's first run of the game before Heather McGuirk scored on a Morgan Goshorn single and Holly Ostrander scored on an Averett error. A Jamie Langford single scored Alicia Gauker to tie the game and Blake Rowland scored on the play to give Huntingdon the lead.

Leading 5-4, in the seventh, Langford scored on a Rimensnyder single and Gabby Alcantar scored the final run of the game on a sacrifice bunt by Kala Rooney.

Goshorn and Langford were both 2-for-3 in the game.

Huntingdon returns to action on Wednesday with a conference doubleheader at Covenant.