Huntingdon’s season ends in NCAA Regional

TYLER, Texas – The Huntingdon softball team's postseason run came to an end Saturday on the second day of the NCAA Division III Regional at the University of Texas-Tyler.

Huntingdon fell behind early as Birmingham-Southern took an 8-1 win. The Panthers built a 3-1 lead in the first three innings and added five more runs in the fifth and sixth innings.

This was the Lady Hawks' first appearance in a NCAA Regional. Huntingdon (28-15) lost to fourth-ranked Pacific Lutheran on Friday to set up Saturday's elimination game with Birmingham-Southern. Despite the outcome, Huntingdon senior Kristi Taylor said reaching the Regional was an "awesome experience."

"As kids, I think this is something we all dreamed about – playing in a place like this with all of the TV and press," Taylor said. "We pushed through and fought all the way here. Even though it didn't turn out the way we wanted, it was a great experience."

Taylor accounted for two of Huntingdon's six hits on Saturday. Holly Ostrander's RBI single in the first inning scored Jenna Rimensnyder for Huntingdon's run.

Melissa McClure (10-7) took the loss for Huntingdon in 4 1/3 innings.

"(Making it here) was big for the school and for these girls," Huntingdon head coach Gynger Williams said. "These girls worked hard to get here, too hard for an outcome like this. But these girls have raised the bar for the team next year. We're going to work hard and try to get back here next season."