HICKORY, N.C. — The Catawba Valley Community College softball team swept its season-opening doubleheader on Wednesday against the Montreat JV team at the Highland Recreation Center.

Game one: Catawba Valley 6, Montreat JV 3

Cali Hinnant struck out 16 batters and allowed just three hits on the mound in a dominant pitching performance to help the Red Hawks secure the win in game one.

Grace Andrews led CVCC at the plate with two RBI — both coming on a single during the first inning, which scored teammates Kaylee Yoder and Lillie Pennington.

CVCC led 3-0 though three complete innings, but Cavaliers tied the contest with three runs of their own in the fourth inning, including a two-run home run by Caitlin Minor and a solo blast by Alexa Chandler.

The Red Hawks regained the lead by scoring two runs in the fifth inning, including an RBI double by Carson Hudgins, and Yoder added an insurance run on an RBI double during the sixth inning

Second baseman Cora Olivares tallied a team-high two hits for CVCC.

Game two: Catawba Valley 12, Montreat JV 0

The Red Hawks tallied nine hits, including two apiece from Kiana Mullner and Cora Olivares, to run rule the Cavaliers in game two of Wednesday's set.

Freshman Jillian Jones made an impressive debut on the mound for Catawba Valley, allowing just two Cavalier hits and striking out six batters to earn her first collegiate win.

Emma Kuproski, Alyssa Kropski and Olivares all drove in two runs each in the win for CVCC.

The Catawba Valley Community College softball team returns to action on Saturday for its home conference opener against Pitt. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. at Kiwanis Park (Field 3) in Hickory.