Hawks Drop Game 1 But Rebound To Take Game Two Against #6 Berry

MOUNT BERRY,Ga.- In a matchup with major implications in the national DIII rankings, 20th ranked Huntingdon softball (16-2 overall) split games in a double header with the #6 ranked Berry College Vikings(18-3 overall), losing the first game 2-1 but rebounding to win the second game 3-2. The Hawks came out of the gates slow in the first game, which the Vikings were able to take advantage of. However, the roles were reversed in the second game, with a fast start giving Huntingdon the advantage, and eventually, the victory.

Game 1

Through two innings, neither squad was able to generate much productivity on the offensive end, with Allie Roberts earning four early strikeouts.  Berry finally broke the ice in the bottom of the third inning with a triple bringing home their first run. The fourth inning replicated the earlier stages of the game with no runs scored by either team. In the bottom of the fifth, Berry was able to secure another run by way of a single down the middle of the field, pushing their advantage to 2-0. Huntingdon was still unable to generate any offense through the 6th inning, but the Hawks found life in the 7th with a double from Riley Rudick allowing Lauren Watts to cross home plate and put the Hawks behind by one with two outs. The Hawks followed Rudick with a single and a walk, loading the bases, but Berry managed to earn a strikeout at the following at bat to secure the victory. Freshman Allie Roberts suffered her first loss in the circle as a Hawk, allowing two runs on seven hits while striking out five Viking batters.

Game 2

In game two, Huntingdon got off to a much faster start, with Maddie Grace Hubbard singling to the left side of the field, bringing home Brooke Stefankiewicz for the Hawks first run in the opening frame. Designated player Dani Holt followed Hubbard with an RBI single of her own, allowing Kylie Stephens to give the Hawks a 2-0 advantage. Brooke Cooper got the start in the circle for the Hawks, and she forced three consecutive outs in as many at-bats to put away the Vikings at the end of the first inning. Berry's defense controlled the field in the second inning, not allowing Huntingdon to reach the bases. The Vikings then responded with two runs in the bottom frame to even the score at 2 going into the third inning. After another scoreless inning for the Hawks, Allie Roberts entered the circle and put Berry away in four at-bats to keep the score even at two. Both teams' defenses controlled the action in the fourth inning, with only one base hit being recorded between the two offenses. With two outs in the top of the fifth inning, Jordan Holman doubled, which brought Kamryn Miller home to break the tie and give Huntingdon a 3-2 lead entering the final two innings. To secure the victory, Allie Roberts stifled the Vikings batters, only allowing 3 base hits in 11 attempts to give the Hawks a crucial non-conference victory.

Hawk Top Performers- Game Two

• #14 Dani Holt- 2 hits, 1 RBI

• #33 Allie Roberts- allowed 4 hits, no runs, and secured 5 strikeouts

• #24 Jordan Holman- 1 double, 1 RBI

The Hawks look to carry this momentum into a home double header on March 16th against Washington University of Saint Louis. Games are scheduled for 11:00 AM and 1:00 PM CT.