SOFTBALL

Saturday afternoon marked the biggest win of first-year Coach Erin (Rethlake) Ehler’s young career as she guided the HU softball team to a 3-2 upset over #16 Marian (18-5, 8-4) in game one of a league doubleheader at Huntington.

It’s the fourth time this season the Foresters have faced a ranked opponent and on this given day, the hosts made it clear they can compete with some of the nation’s best.

“Today was just a phenomenal team win,” said Coach Ehler. “It’s been rough for us trying to put the pieces together so far this year, so it was fun to see things click for these girls who are working so hard for it. Now we build from here to see where things can go!”

Ehler’s crew got to work right away. Jenessa Hasty led off the bottom of the first by dropping a single into center field and then came around to score when Courtney Mason ripped a double into left center for an early 1-0 HU lead.

Hasty pounded out two more hits including the game-winning base knock in the sixth when she drove in Erin Dyke who had singled a few batters earlier.

It was HU’s second run of the frame with the first coming on MacKyndsea Burke’s RBI-groundout that brought Abigail Reed in after she had singled up the middle and advanced to third on Dyke’s shot through the right side.

Most impressive about Huntington’s sixth inning performance was the poise they showed after Sierra Norman launched one into Klopfenstein Tennis Courts in the top of the frame to give Marian, who had stolen home in the third for their first run, a 2-1 advantage.

That poise carried over into top of the seventh where third baseman Mackenzie Walker tracked down a pop up in foul territory, cleanly fielded a hard-hit grounder and made the throw to first for out number two after which Hasty caught up to ball on the warning track in center field to seal the win.

Mason finished with two hits and an RBI while Dyke and Jocelyn Winebrenner also collected a pair of base pokes in the winning effort.

For as inspiring as HU’s play was on both sides of the ball, Karlee Franklin matched that effort in the circle to log the complete-game win. The rookie hurler limited the Knights to just six hits, nearly three hits below their season average, two runs and a walk while striking out two. It’s only the fourth time this season MU has put up two or less runs in a game.

The guests came raging back in the nightcap by sending three out of the park in their second at-bat to skirt in front 9-0 and never look back on the way to blanking HU in a shortened five-inning affair.

Breanna Hines finished with two of Huntington’s four hits while starting pitcher Maddie Turner was charged with the loss having given up two hits, three runs and a walk while striking out one.

With this split, the Foresters move to 4-19 overall which includes a 2-10 league record. HU is back in action on Tuesday to host #RV Mount Vernon at 3:00 p.m.