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The Huntland High School Lady Hornets beat the Siegel Lady Stars 5-2 at home Tuesday in their first game of the season.

The Lady Hornets took the lead in the bottom of the fourth inning and built on their advantage in the fifth as they opened their 2023 campaign on a high note.

Huntland head softball coach Michael Tipps said his team did a good job of settling down after a slow offensive start.

“As the game went on, we got a little bit more contact, put the ball in play, scored a few runs and played really good defense,” he said. “I was pleased with that.”

The Lady Stars jumped out to a quick lead in the top of the first as their leadoff hitter doubled, moved to third on a passed ball and scored on a sacrifice fly to make it a 1-0 game.

After being held to one total hit through the first three innings, the Lady Hornets got an offensive spark in the bottom of the fourth from a leadoff home run by Ashtyn Danley.

The home run was followed by a double from Hadley Gardner, and Gardner scored on an RBI single by DeAnna Burton to give the Lady Hornets a 2-1 lead.

Burton then moved to second on a wild pitch and advanced to third on a groundout by Camerin Davis before scoring from there off of an error on a ball hit by Hazel Reed to put Huntland’s lead at 3-1.

The Lady Hornets extended their lead further in the bottom of the fifth as Bailey Morris scored on a throwing error and Danley crossed home plate after a wild pitch to make it a 5-1 game late.

The Lady Stars were able to push one more run across in the top of the sixth on a passed ball, but Huntland pitcher Kinah Mason retired the side in order in the top of the seventh to clinch the win by three.

Danley started the game for the Lady Hornets and pitched the first five innings with six strikeouts, one hit and one unearned run allowed.

Mason pitched the final two innings in relief with two strikeouts, no hits and one unearned run allowed.

With the win, the Lady Hornet started their season with a record of 1-0.

They will next play Wednesday at Blackman High School. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.