Roberts Surpasses 300 Career Strikeouts As #14 Hawks Softball Sweeps Opening Day At The NFCA Leadoff Classic

COLUMBUS, Ga. – Huntingdon softball picked up a pair of wins Friday at the NFCA Leadoff Classic, defeating Gettysburg 11-3 in five innings before earning an 11-8 extra-inning victory over Bethel (Minn.) in neutral-site action. The Hawks combined timely hitting with strong relief pitching, while Allie Roberts surpassed the 300-career strikeout milestone during tournament play.

Game 1: Huntingdon 11, Gettysburg 3 (5 inn.)

Huntingdon used a big fifth inning to pull away for an 11-3 run-rule victory in the opener.

The Hawks took an early lead in the first when Kate Dinkel drove in Kamryn Miller with an RBI single. Dinkel struck again in the third with a two-run double that scored Maddie Grace Hubbard and Taylor Au to make it 3-0.

After Gettysburg tied the game in the fifth, Huntingdon answered with eight runs in the bottom of the inning. Taylor Au delivered an RBI single to start the rally before Hubbard, Miller, and Kylie Stephens each drew RBI walks. Dinkel capped the inning with a two-run single.

Dinkel finished 3-for-3 with five RBIs, while Hubbard added two hits and two runs. The Hawks drew 10 walks in the game.

Addison Gaines struck out five over 4.1 innings, and Allie Roberts recorded the final two outs in relief.

Game 2: Huntingdon 11, Bethel (Minn.) 8 (9 inn.)

The Hawks followed with an 11-8 extra-inning win in a back-and-forth contest against Bethel.

Huntingdon erased an early deficit with two runs in the second on RBI efforts from Taylor Au and Maddie Grace Hubbard, then added runs on a Riley Rudick sacrifice fly and RBIs from Kylie Stephens and Kaylin Fincher to lead 5-2.

Bethel briefly moved ahead in the fifth, but Katie Burch tied the game with an RBI single in the seventh to force extra innings.

Huntingdon regained the lead in the eighth on a bases-loaded walk by Stephens before breaking the game open with a four-run ninth inning. Burch drove in a run during the rally as the Hawks capitalized on additional opportunities to extend the lead.

Stephens finished with three RBIs, Fincher collected two hits and two runs, and Au added two hits and two runs scored. Huntingdon drew 11 walks in the game.

In the circle, McKenzie Little started before Roberts delivered four strong innings in relief, allowing just one hit while striking out six to earn the win. 

The Hawks return to action in Columbus tomorrow, March 7th, against Saint Benedict and Pfeiffer. Games are set for 2:00 PM and 4:30 PM CT.