Huntingdon falls to Ozarks, shuts out Rhodes

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The Huntingdon softball team lost its first game on Sunday but closed the weekend with a shutout victory.

After falling to the University of the Ozarks 7-6, Huntingdon bounced back with a 3-0 win over Rhodes.

MacKenzie Smelley and McKenzie Ridgway combined for eight of Huntingdon's 15 hits in the two games and seven of the Lady Hawks' nine RBIs. Smelley was 5-for-6 with five RBIs, a run and two stolen bases in the two games and Ridgway was 3-for-7 with a solo home run, two RBIs and three runs.

In the win over Rhodes, Smelley drove in two runs with a single in the first inning before Ridgway homered in the third inning. Smelley finished with two of Huntingdon's six hits. Ridgway scored twice and Annie Nolan scored once.

Winning pitcher Madison Hunt (1-0) and the Huntingdon defense did the rest. Hunt, who faced 24 batters in a complete game, scattered five hits, struck out three, forced nine fly outs and six ground outs.

In the loss to Ozarks, Lauren Melton (1-1) took the loss in 3 1/3 innings of relief.

Huntingdon scored three runs in the second inning and three runs in the third inning. Smelley had a hand in four of the six runs. The junior drove in Huntingdon's first two runs and scored the third run in the second inning. Smelley drove in Huntingdon's final run in the third inning. In between, Ridgway and Caitlyn Caffee each drove in a run.

Ozarks took the lead for good with a solo home run in the fourth inning.

Smelley was 3-for-4 in the game and Ridgway was 2-for-4. In addition to Smelley's run, Kaci Cochran scored twice and Ridgway, Rayne Ellis and Nolan each scored one run.

Records: Huntingdon (2-2); Ozarks (1-2); Rhodes (3-1)

Coming Up: Huntingdon will play a doubleheader at Millsaps on Feb. 17. Game 1 is set for 2 p.m.