Huntingdon softball shuts out Covenant in conference opener

LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN, Ga. – Huntingdon scored in four of the first five innings and pitcher Bree Giordana shut down Covenant's bats in the softball team's 8-0 win on Thursday.

The Lady Hawks were scheduled to play a doubleheader, but the second game was postponed due to rain.

"The girls hit the ball well and executed well," Huntingdon head coach Gynger Williams said. "We were able to score early and Bree pitched a great game. This was a good way to set the tone for conference."

Giordana (5-1) picked up the win, striking out 10 and allowing two hits. At the plate, she was 2-for-2 with a triple and two runs. Shortstop Aleah Payne was 2-for-3 with a triple, two RBIs and two runs and Ashley Johnson was 2-for-2 with an RBI. Freshman Morgan Goshorn had a hit, an RBI and five stolen bases.

Huntingdon (6-3, 1-0 Great South Athletic Conference) jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first as Brittany Richardson scored on a Payne single. Payne later scored on a Jenna Rimensnyder RBI. The Lady Hawks made it 3-0 in the third when Giordana scored on a passed ball.

In the fourth inning, Rimensnyder and Hayley Praytor each drew walks. Rimensnyder scored on a Kristi Taylor sacrifice and Praytor scored on a Johnson single.

The Lady Hawks closed their scoring in the fifth inning. Giordana and Payne had back-to-back triples to make it 6-0. Payne scored on a Covenant error and Holly Ostrander scored on a Goshorn single to make it 8-0.

Covenant drops to 3-3 overall and 0-1 in the GSAC.

Huntingdon returns to action this weekend in the Roanoke Valley Softball Bash. The Lady Hawks play Rochester at 10 a.m. on Saturday and Roanoke at 2 p.m.