SOFTBALL

Opening day of league play did not go as scripted for the HU softball team who was on the wrong side of a pair of one-run decisions, 3-2, 2-1, to Saint Francis (4-8, 2-0) Tuesday afternoon at Westendorf Field. With these losses, the Foresters drop to 9-7 overall, 0-2 in CL action.

Things seemed to be shaping up nicely for the guests in the opening game as Gower’s crew plated two runs in the third, the first on a dropped fly and the second on a Hannah Shoupe RBI-ground out. The Foresters held onto their advantage for the next few frames, giving up a run in the fifth before the Cougars knotted things up at 2-2 in the sixth.

USF pitcher Mackenzie Rust worked a 1-2-3 seventh giving her team one last shot to complete their comeback. Much to the chagrin of Huntington, that’s exactly what happened. Dory Thompson kicked things off with a triple and then eventually cruised home on Dani Karr’s walk-off single to center.

Paige Eichelberger and Jada Crofoot logged HU’s only hits of the game. Meghan Fretz took the loss having given up ten hits, three runs and a walk while striking out two in 6.1 innings in the circle.

The nightcap also came down to the Cougars’ final at-bat with Karr again proving the hero. This time it was her walk-off double that brought an immediate ending to the game.

USF’s first run came in the third for a 1-0 lead they would hold onto until the seventh when Breanna Hines knocked in Eichelberger who opened the frame with a base poke to center. Unfortunately, the 1-1 stalemate was short-lived thanks to Karr’s game-winning two-bagger.

Adelyn Harsh was charged with the loss. The rookie hurler allowed seven hits, two runs, only one of which was earned, and three walks in 6.2 innings of work. Eichelberger went 3-for-3 at the plate while Hines finished with a pair of hits and an RBI. The Foresters outhit their hosts 8-7 and left six runners stranded along the way.

Huntington returns to their home turf on Friday to host Concordia at 3:00 p.m.