Huntingdon opens conference play with two losses at Meredith

RALEIGH, N.C. – The Huntingdon softball team battled Meredith to the final at-bat but lost both games of a doubleheader on Saturday. Meredith took the first game 2-1 in eight innings and won the second game 4-3.

The Avenging Angels (5-1, 2-0 USA South) ended Game 1 with a RBI single in the bottom of the eighth and took Game 2 with a two-run home run in the bottom of the seventh inning.

In Game 1, Huntingdon (3-7, 0-2 USA South) took a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning when Jesse Dunn drew a bases-loaded walk to score Heather McGuirk. Meredith answered in the fifth inning. Huntingdon had an opportunity in the sixth inning, loading the bases with two outs. Meredith ended the threat with a fielder's choice.

Katy Messick (2-3) took the loss, striking out 10, walking one, scattering 11 hits and allowing one earned run. McGuirk, Tiffany Taylor, Kala Rooney and Ashley Johnson combined for Huntingdon's four hits in the game.

Huntingdon jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first two innings of Game 2. McGuirk singled to score Gabby Alcantar in the first inning and Rooney scored on an error in the second.

Meredith tied the game 2-2 in the bottom of the second. In the fifth, McGuirk singled to score Alcantar and put Huntingdon back in front by a run. The lead stood until the bottom of the seventh.

McGuirk was 2-for-3 with two RBIs in Game 2 and Alcantar scored twice and had two stolen bases. Raina Lanier (1-2) took the loss in relief.

Huntingdon plays a conference doubleheader at William Peace on Sunday. Game 1 is set for 11 a.m.