SOFTBALL

Playing Spring Arbor (13-20, 7-10) for the second time this season, the Forester softball team swept their visitors, 1-0, 8-5, Tuesday afternoon. The last time these two squads met, they split the doubleheader so the overall regular season series tips in favor of HU 3-1.

Game one was a pitcher’s duel that eventually favored HU’s ace Meghan Fretz. The senior hurler fired a five-hit complete-game shutout that saw her give up just one walk while striking out three.

The Foresters posted four hits in the contest and tapped into two of them in the bottom of the sixth to plate the game’s only run. After Kaela Robey reached first on a fielder’s choice, at the expense of Jada Crofoot who had singled one batter prior, the sophomore outfielder stole second and then motored home on Sophia Beachy’s hard-hit infield single.

A pair of freshmen in Breanna Hines and Courtney Mason were the only other Foresters to log a hit in the opener.

The bats for both teams came alive in the nightcap. While each squad posted nine hits, Gower’s crew tapped into four walks to make the most of their opportunities. Spring Arbor pieced together five hits in the second to find home four times for the early advantage, but HU responded two frames later to take over the lead.

Twelve batters stepped up the plate for the hosts in the fourth and four walks and six hits later, the scoreboard favored Huntington 6-4. After the Foresters scored their first run on a wild pitch, Beachy smacked a two-run single into shallow center, Mallory West doubled in a run and Hannah Shoupe and Kennedy Krull each knocked in a run with a base poke.

HU went on to outscore their guests 2-1 the rest of the way. Beachy was at it again in the fifth, this time sending a shot into deep center for an RBI-double with Paige Eichelberger’s sac fly in the next frame capping off the Foresters’ scoring.

Beachy finished with two hits and three RBI.

Adelyn Harsh spent the first five frames in the circle to earn the win by giving up eight hits, four runs and a walk while logging one strikeout. McKyndsea Burke tossed the final two innings, giving up a hit and a run, to claim the save.

The Foresters (21-15, 10-8) are currently sitting fifth in the CL standings. They are back action tomorrow to host Saint Francis at 3:00 p.m.