Huntingdon softball improves to 8-2 in USA South

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The Huntingdon softball team picked up two conference wins with a 3-1 and 8-0 sweep of Maryville on Saturday. The second game was shortened to five innings by the mercy rule.

The sweep was the third in five conference doubleheaders for the Lady Hawks (12-9, 8-2 USA South).

Pitchers Katy Messick and Brooke Meadows combined for 12 strikeouts, nine hits allowed and one run allowed in the doubleheader. Messick (5-1) struck out six, scattered five hits and allowed one run in seven innings to earn the win in Game 1. Meadows (5-3) struck out six, walked one and allowed four hits in five innings to get the win in Game 2.

Holly Ostrander had three hits in the doubleheader, Lauren Welch drove in three runs and Jenna Rimensnyder scored three runs and had three stolen bases.

Tied 1-1 in the bottom of the sixth inning in Game 1, Huntingdon took the lead on a pair of doubles. Halleigh DiNicholas doubled up the middle to score Daisha Henderson and DiNicholas scored on a Welch double.

Rimensnyder scored the first run of the game. Holly Ostrander finished the first game 2-for-3.

In Game 2, the Lady Hawks took control with six runs in the fourth inning. Leading 2-0, Gabby Alcantar tripled to score Ashley Johnson and Tiffany Taylor. Alcantar scored on a sacrifice bunt by Heather McGuirk to make it 5-0.

Ostrander singled in Rimensnyder to make it a six-run game before Welch hit a two-run single to score DiNicholas and Ostrander.

Alcantar finished Game 2 with two RBIs and two runs and Morgan Goshorn was 2-for-3.

Huntingdon travels to Greensboro on March 22 for a conference doubleheader.