SOFTBALL

The Huntington softball team won big, 17-5, in their nightcap against IU South Bend (6-4) for win No.1 of the year. The convincing W also proved the first victory for first-year head coach Erin Rethlake Ehler.

“It was great to get our first win under our belt,” said Coach Ehler. “We had a lot of production from a lot of different places. We need to continue trying to just put all the pieces together for an entire game, but the girls are definitely on the right track.”

The offensive flood gates opened in the latter part of the contest for Ehler’s crew. Trailing 2-0 after three, the Foresters went off for seven runs in the fourth and never looked back. Eleven batters stepped up to the plate for HU with the first two reaching on errors after which the guests cranked out three RBI-hits for five runs while the other two came by way of a sacrifice fly and wild pitch.

It was just the beginning as Huntington would go on to score twice more in the fifth on a Titan throwing error. The guests unleashed for eight runs in the sixth to run-rule their hosts. The innings saw the Foresters crank out six hits, four for extra bases, to run away with the win.

Eight Foresters tallied at least one RBI which included HU’s first four batters in Jocelyn Winebrenner, Breanna Hines, Abigail Reed and Adelyn Harsh who each collected a pair as did Kiera Stacy. Courtney Mason finished with a game-leading three hits and an RBI while MacKyndsea Burke hammered out two base pokes, one of which was an RBI-single.

In addition to her offensive contributions, Harsh also posted the win in the circle by tossing all but the last two outs. The sophomore hurler gave up seven hits, five runs, three of which were earned, and seven walks while striking out three.

The opener was also packed with offense, but it wasn’t as lopsided as game two to eventually favor IUSB. The hosts jumped out to a 4-0 lead only to have Huntington not only erase the deficit but climb on top, 5-4, in the fourth.

Most impressive about HU’s big inning was doing all their damage with two outs. After loading the bases with three straight singles, Jenessa Hasty reached on an error and Winebrenner drew a base on balls to cut IUSB’s lead in half.

With bases still loaded, Hines delivered a triple down the right field line to send all three of her teammates home for the 5-4 go ahead. Harsh doubled in two more runs in the sixth but the Titans took the lead for good in the fifth on the way to totaling six runs in their last three at-bats to secure the victory.

Huntington was paced by Mackenzie Walker and Audrey Barnes who tallied two hits apiece. As a team, the Foresters finished with eight hits to IUSB’s five.

Karlee Franklin was charged with the loss having given up seven hits, seven runs, five of which were earned, and one walk while striking out three.

HU (1-4) hits the road for IU Southeast on Friday for a doubleheader with the #RV Grenadiers at 1:00 p.m.