PALATINE, Ill. – The Harper College softball team put on an offensive show in its home opener on Wednesday afternoon against Oakton Community College. The Hawks pounded out 13 hits in an 18-0 win, and they completed the sweep with a 9-1 win in game two.

Harper (5-7) got off to a blazing start with 12 runs in the first inning of game one, including a Sara Markelonis (Cary, Ill./Cary-Grove) (2-for-2, four RBIs) inside-the-park three-run homer. Raegan Fingerman (Fox River Grove, Ill./Barrington) was 2-for-2 with a double and three RBIs in the inning and finished the game 3-for-4 with a triple, six RBIs and three runs scored.

The Hawks added four more runs in the second inning with a two-run triple by Fingerman followed by an RBI triple from Sam Cummings (Roselle, Ill./Lake Park) and RBI single from Markelonis.

Leadoff hitter Olivia Hamilton (Homewood, Ill./Homewood-Flossmoor) also had a strong game, going 3-for-5 with a RBI and three runs scored.  Hamilton (4-5) also pitched a brilliant game inside the circle, as she allowed no runs on five hits and struck out a career-high 11 batters in five innings. Cummings was 1-for-1 with a triple, three walks, and four runs scored.  Emily Butler (Prospect Heights, Ill./Hersey) was 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI.

In game two, Markelonis (1-2) pitched an impressive game, allowing just one hit and an unearned run while striking out six Oakton (0-8) batters to pick up her first win of the year. She also helped herself at the plate, going 2-for-2 with a triple, RBI, and two runs scored.

Sam Cummings (Roselle, Ill./Lake Park) connected on her first home run of the season in game two. Jamie Haze (Palatine, Ill./Palatine) also had a productive game at the plate, going 2-for-2 with an RBI. The Hawks scored three in both the second and third innings, two in the fourth, and once in the fifth to close out the game.

Harper returns to the diamond on Saturday afternoon against Elgin Community College. First pitch is set for 1 PM in Palatine.