Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 HOUGHTON, N.Y. -- Houghton softball got its week off to a great start with a two-game sweep of Hilbert on Monday at the Kerr-Pegula Softball Field.

The Highlanders took game one, 13-6, and finished the day off with a 10-2 five-inning win.

The opener featured 15 hits by the hosts, but it looked like the visiting Hawks were going to put on their own offensive display, as they jumped out to 3-0 lead in the top of the first. Houghton responded to even the score at three apiece. After Hilbert scored once more in the top of the second, Houghton regained the lead with three more in the bottom half of the inning and wouldn't relinquish the advantage for the rest of the contest. The Highlanders had their biggest inning with five runs in the fourth, answering the two runs scored by the Hawks in the top half of the inning, and added two more runs in the fifth to close the scoring.

The attack was led by Danielle Nelson and Carlee Miller, who contributed three hits each, while Jennifer Page, Kareena Ulfig and Hailie Mathews each had two hits. Page also drove in five runs, while Miller scored three times.

Ulfig started in the circle and got the win. The freshman allowed six runs on six hits and struck out five in six innings. Olivia Carr closed the game with three strikeouts in an inning of work.

The nightcap was another strong showing for the Highlander hitters as they produced nine hits and 10 runs. Miller had another three-hit performance, while driving in four runs, with two doubles. Lydia Peterson finished with two hits, four runs and three RBI, while Ulfig added another two hits. 

The Hawks jumped ahead 2-0 on a two-run homer in the first, but Houghton scored once in the first, four times in the second, three in fourth and twice in the fifth. The game was called due to the eight-run mercy rule in the fifth. Kailey Miller reached on a single and scored on a Peterson triple to right field. Nelson followed with a double that plated Peterson for the walk-off.

Freshman Keri Wesneski got the win in the circle, going the full five innings, allowing just two runs on five hits and striking out two batters.

Houghton returns to action on Friday, April 19 when they travel to take on Utica in an E8 doubleheader at 3 and 5 p.m.