Raina Lanier pitched a complete-game three-hitter in a 1-0 win over Piedmont in Game 1 of a doubleheader on Sunday.
Raina Lanier pitched a complete-game three-hitter in a 1-0 win over Piedmont in Game 1 of a doubleheader on Sunday.

Softball splits with conference leader Piedmont

DEMOREST, Ga. – The Huntingdon softball team split with conference leader Piedmont on Sunday to clinch the No. 7 seed in the conference tournament.

The Lady Hawks won the first game 1-0 before falling 7-4 in Game 2.

Huntingdon (17-19, 11-9 USA South) will play No. 2 seed Maryville in the first round of the USA South Athletic Conference Tournament on Friday at 9 a.m. Central.

Sophomore Raina Lanier and the Huntingdon defense held Piedmont (28-11, 16-4 USA South) scoreless in Game 1. Lanier (9-8) earned the win with a complete-game three-hitter. Lanier struck out seven, walked five and hit four batters in seven innings.

Piedmont put runners in scoring position in all but two innings, including loading the bases in the sixth inning. Huntingdon got out of the bases-loaded jam in the sixth and Lanier struck out the final batter of the game with runners on first and second in the bottom of the seventh.

Huntingdon managed just three hits, with catcher Jesse Dunn driving in the go-ahead run in the third inning. Dunn's double scored Brandi Blair to give Huntingdon the lead.

In Game 2, Piedmont scored six runs in the second inning to take control.

Chelsea Messer had two hits in the second game. Messer and Katrina Harden each had an RBI. Daisha Henderson, Jamie Langford, Kerri Reed and Jessica Swindle each scored one run.

Lindsey Selph (4-3) took the loss in Game 2.