Hawks Knock Off #4 St. Mary's Before Closing NFCA Leadoff Classic With Win Over Cortland

COLUMBUS, Ga.-Rounding out the 2026 NFCA Leadoff Classic with an impressive 5-1 record, #14 Huntingdon Softball knocked off #4 St. Mary's in today's first game 7-6 before capping things off with a 9-4 win over Cortland. 

Game one v. #4 St. Mary's

In the first game, the Hawks jumped out early when Kylie Stephens drove in Amaya Wommack with an RBI single in the first inning. After Saint Mary's evened the score, Huntingdon responded with a three-run third inning. Kate Dinkel started the rally with an RBI single, Riley Rudick followed with an RBI knock, and Katie Burch added a sacrifice RBI to push the Hawks ahead 4–1.

Saint Mary's continued to chip away, but Huntingdon answered again in the fifth and sixth innings. Kinley Hutto delivered an RBI single in the fifth before adding another run-scoring hit in the sixth. Maddie Grace Hubbard also drew an RBI walk in the inning as the Hawks extended the lead to 7–3.

The Cardinals mounted a three-run rally in the seventh to make things interesting, but McKenzie Little entered in relief and closed out the final inning to secure the save. Allie Roberts earned the win in the circle, allowing six runs—only three earned—over six innings with four strikeouts. Offensively, Hutto and Rudick each collected three hits to lead the Hawks' 14-hit effort.

Game Two v. Cortland

In game two, Huntingdon again found itself in an early battle before pulling away late. After Cortland took a 2–1 lead in the first and added two more runs in the fourth to go ahead 4–2, the Hawks responded with a massive seven-run fifth inning to seize control of the game.

The rally began with Kate Dinkel's two-run single to tie the contest. Kaylin Fincher followed with a two-run double to give Huntingdon the lead, while Riley Rudick added another RBI double. Sacrifice flies from Katie Burch and Fincher, along with an RBI single from Hubbard, capped the decisive inning as the Hawks surged ahead 9–4.

Kinley Hutto led the offense in game two with three hits and two runs scored, while Fincher drove in three runs and Rudick added two RBIs with a pair of doubles.

In the circle, Allie Roberts picked up the win in relief, tossing four shutout innings and striking out eight to secure the sweep.

The Hawks will look to keep rolling on March 12th, traveling to Berry for a double-header with the Vikings. Games are set for 2:00 and 4:00 PM CT.