Hawks Softball Captures Two Wins To Kick Off NFCA Leadoff Classic

COLUMBUS, Ga.- Traveling to Columbus, Huntingdon softball kicked off the NFCA Leadoff Classic hosted at the Southern Commons Softball Complex. 

The Leadoff Classic year-in and year-out features the top softball programs in the country, and the Hawks got off to a hot start. Huntingdon opened the day with a 12-7 comeback victory over Denison before finishing with a 10-2 win over Stevens in 6 innings.

Game one v. Denison

Dani Holt got things going for the Hawks in the top of the first, bringing home Jordan Holman at the fourth at-bat to give Huntingdon the early advantage. Riley Rudick followed with an RBI single of her own to score Miranda Treadway and give the Hawks a 2-0 lead entering the bottom frame. Denison answered with a two-run homer to even things as they second inning got underway, taking the lead 3-2 in the bottom frame with another home run. After a scoreless third inning, the Big Red caught fire in the fourth inning, utilizing three runs to extend their lead to 6-2 moving into the 5th inning.

The Hawks began to claw their way back into things as the fifth inning got underway, with Jordan Holman drilling a two-run homer to cut the deficit to 6-4. Miranda Treadway followed with another home run to bring the deficit to 6-5. The Big Red fired back with another homer to push their lead back to 7-5, but from that point on Huntingdon controlled the pace of the game.

In the top frame of the 6th inning, Katie Burch singled up the middle, scoring Elli Lorance and Taylor Au to even the score at 7. Maddie Grace Hubbard returned the favor shortly after, singling to bring in Burch and give Huntingdon their first lead since the opening inning, 8-7. Runs from Hubbard, Holman, and Kamryn Miller gave the Hawks an 11-6 lead entering the final inning. Riley Rudick's run in the 7th put a stamp on the Hawks 12-7 comeback victory.

Madisyn Fruge picked up her first win of the season, allowing just two hits in three innings to put Huntingdon into position to capture the lead. Allie Roberts, Addison Gaines, and McKenzie Little each saw time on the mound as well.

Game two v. Stevens

To get their second game of the day underway, the Hawks found themselves trailing 2-0 after the first inning, despite recording 3 hits. Addison Gaines controlled the mound through the next three innings, keeping Stevens off the board, but the Hawks still trailed as the fifth inning got underway.

In the bottom of the 5th, the Hawks caught fire, scoring 8 runs to claim a resounding lead. Jordan Holman got things started with a double, scoring Amya Wommack and Kamryn Miller to even things at two. Riley Rudick returned the favor to Holman shortly there after with an RBI single to give the Hawks a 3-2 advantage. Freshman Amya Wommack followed up with a grand slam for the second home run of her career, scoring Katie Burch, Kate Dinkel, and Elli Lorance to push the Huntingdon lead to 8-2 as the 6th inning got under way.

After forcing three quick outs, Jordan Holman drilled her second home run of the day, bringing home Maddie Grace Hubbard to close the game in six innings, giving the Hawks a 10-2 victory.

Addison Gaines drew the start for the Hawks, allowing 2 runs on 4 hits through four innings. Allie Roberts closed for Huntingdon, keeping Stevens off the board with only two allowed hits to secure the Hawks second victory of the day.

The Hawks look to keep rolling at the Leadoff Classic tomorrow, March 1st, taking on #10 Trine at 2:00 PM before facing the #1 ranked ETBU Tigers at 4:30 PM CT.