Huntingdon softball outscores Covenant 18-1 in USA South sweep

LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN, Ga. – The Huntingdon softball team scored 18 runs in a conference sweep over Covenant on Wednesday.

The Lady Hawks won the first game 10-1 in five innings and took the second game 8-0 in six innings. The sweep was the fifth in eight USA South Athletic Conference doubleheaders this season.

Huntingdon (17-10) is currently second in the USA South standings with a 13-3 conference record. The Lady Hawks will host conference leader Piedmont (27-3, 15-1 USA South) in a doubleheader on Saturday. The first pitch against the 11th-ranked Lions is set for noon.

Against Covenant, Huntingdon scored nine runs in the top of the fifth inning to put Game 1 away. In Game 2, the Lady Hawks scored two runs early, added five runs in the fifth and one in the sixth for a second mercy-rule win.

Katy Messick (6-2) earned the win in Game 1, allowing three hits and one earned run and striking out four in five innings. Brooke Meadows (8-3) earned the second win in five innings, striking out seven, walking one and scattering four hits. Anna Stephens pitched one inning of relief, striking out one and allowing two hits.

Seven players combined for nine hits for the Lady Hawks. Gabby Alcantar and Morgan Goshorn each had two hits, with Alcantar driving in two runs and scoring twice.

Tiffany Taylor had a RBI and two runs, Kaitlynn Wiggins had a RBI and a run and Jenna Rimensnyder had a RBI. Halleigh DiNicholas, Holly Ostrander, Brandi Blair, Amy Caroline Riley and Ashley Johnson each scored a run.

In Game 2, Jade Reynolds was 3-for-3 with a two-run home run and Ostrander was 3-for-3 with three runs scored. DiNicholas had two RBIs and a run and Goshorn had two RBIs. Alcantar, Rimensnyder and Kasi Graham each scored once. Rimensnyder had two stolen bases in the game and three for the doubleheader.