#16 Hawks Softball Sweeps Opening Day Double-Header

MONTGOMERY, Ala.- Returning to Lucinda Samford Cannon Field to open their 2026 season, #16 Huntingdon Softball got off to a hot start, sweeping their opening double-header against the Millsaps College Majors with scores of 9-1 and 4-0 in each of the contests.

Game one: Huntingdon-9, Millsaps- 1(6 innings)

Things got off to a slow start in the first inning for each side, as neither squad managed to drive in a run or secure more than 1 base hit. Huntingdon finally shook off the rust in the bottom frame of the second inning, as Kylie Stephens sacrifice fly to center allowed for Amaya Wommack to cross home plate for the Hawks first run of the season. The Hawks followed up with a four run third inning to push the advantage to 5-0 entering the fourth. Riley Rudick kicked things off with an RBI double, scoring Maddie Grace Hubbard and Kamryn Miller to make the lead 3-0. A Majors throwing error at the following at-bat for Kinley Hutto made way for Kate Dinkel to cross home plate and extend the advantage to 4-0 before Rudick found her way home off the bat from Stephens to bring the score to 5-0. Millsaps followed with a run in the top of the fourth inning to momentarily cut into the lead, but the Hawks kept pouring it on, scoring 4 runs in the bottom of the sixth en route to a run-rule victory. Payton Gilchrist got the scoring started with a two-RBI double, scoring Kaylin Fincher and Kylie Stephens before she and Hubbard found their way home on another Majors error, bringing the final score to 9-1. 

Junior Allie Roberts picked up her first win of the year, surrendering just 3 hits through six innings while throwing 7 strikeouts. 

Game Two: Huntingdon-4, Millsaps-0

In contrast to the first game in the double-header, the scoring was much slower in the second. The Hawks scored their first run of the contest in the opening inning, as Kate Dinkel brought home Kamryn Miller to secure a 1-0 lead. Dinkel followed up in the third with a two-RBI single, sending Maddie Grace Hubbard and Payton Gilchrist across home plate to bring the score to 3-0 before Riley Rudick's sacrifice fly in the sixth pushed the advantage to 4-0. The story of the second game was Huntingdon's defensive effort, led by sophomore Addison Gaines. The Peachtree City, Georgia, native pitched all 7 innings in the circle for the Hawks, surrendering just 1 hit with 10 strikeouts to keep Millsaps at bay. 

The Hawks will close out their series with the Majors tomorrow, February 14th. First pitch is set for 12:00 PM CT.