Hawks Fall To Piedmont To Open The CCS Tournament But Rally Back To Take Down Agnes Scott

MONTGOMERY,Ala.- Beginning play on the second day of the CCS softball championship tournament, Hawks softball (33-5 overall, 15-1 CCS) fell to the Piedmont Lions(20-19 overall, 12-6 CCS) 3-1, but regathered to take down the Scotties of Agnes Scott(13-26 overall, 6-10 CCS) 10-2 in six innings.

Game one highlights

The Hawks got off to a slow start, earning three consecutive outs in as many batters to kick off the game. The Lions got on the board first in the second inning off a groundout to take the early advantage 1-0. After earning only one base hit in the bottom frame, Piedmont came out in the third inning and scored two more runs to push their advantage to 3-0 entering the fourth inning. With neither team finding any offensive groove over the next two innings, the Hawks got on the board in the sixth inning with a sacrifice fly from Riley Rudick bringing home Bailey Murphy to put Huntingdon behind 3-1. The Hawks held Piedmont without a run in the final inning, but were unable to generate any offense of their own, falling 3-1 to the Lions.

In the circle

• CCS Rookie Pitcher of the Year Allie Roberts drew the start for Huntingdon, allowing three runs on four hits while striking out two Lions through two innings.
• Brooke Cooper replaced Roberts in the second inning, keeping Piedmont off the board despite allowing four hits

Game two highlights

Differing from their first game of the day, Brooke Stefankiewicz got the Hawks on the board in the opening frame off an at-bat from Kylie Stephens to take a 1-0 lead early. The Scotties fired back right away however, scoring two runs off a single in the bottom frame to hold a 2-1 advantage entering the second inning. After being held scoreless in the second, Jordan Holman, recently named the CCS Player of the Year, drilled home run over the fence to even the score at 2 in the third inning. She followed up with a triple in the fifth inning, bringing home Kylie Stephens to give Huntingdon back the lead 3-2. Maddie Grace Hubbard singled up the middle of the field at the following at-bat to bring in Holman and put the Hawks up 4-2. Within the same frame, Riley Rudick also singled through the middle of the field, allowing Hubbard to push the lead to 5-2 entering the sixth inning. Huntingdon caught fire in the sixth inning, sparked by a double from Nevaeh McIntyre that allowed Jordan Holman and Kylie Stephens to score and push the lead to 7-2. Still in the sixth inning, a throwing error from Agnes Scott allowed McIntyre and Maddie Grace Hubbard to score and bring the lead to 9-2. To close the game early, Riley Rudick found her way to home plate by way of a passed ball, making the final score 10-2 through six innings.

In the circle

• Allie Roberts started for Huntingdon, allowing two runs on three hits with four strikeouts through five innings
• Brooke Cooper closed for Huntingdon, not allowing any hits or runs in the sixth inning

The Hawks return to Cannon Field for a battle with the #2 seeded Belhaven Blazers tomorrow, May 3rd, at 2:00 PM CT.