SOFTBALL

The HU softball team wrapped up spring break by trading wins with IU Southeast Saturday afternoon at Jeffersonville High School. The Grenadiers took game one 7-4 before Ehler and crew cruised to an 8-2 win in the nightcap.

Kinzie Mollenkopf went the distance in game two to earn the complete-game win. She surrendered seven hits, two runs and a walk while striking out four to move to 2-0 on the season. She also took her turn at the plate where she hammered out an RBI-single and drew one of HU’s four walks.

IUSE scored both runs in their first at bat but that was all she wrote for the hosts after that. Khloee Gregory scored on a wild pitch in the second to kick off HU’s scoring. Several batter later, Maddie Duvall drilled a double into left center to plate to more runs and put her team on top 3-2.

The guests doubled their run total in the fifth thanks to a mighty swing by Bree Hines. With two on, her moon shot cleared the right field fence for a three-run dinger. The Foresters went on to score a run in each of the final two frames to extend their lead to six by game’s end.

While there was plenty to celebrate in the nightcap, that wasn’t the case in the opener as errors haunted Huntington. Of IUSE’s seven runs scored, only two were earned compliments of three HU blunders.

Despite their defense, Huntington still found a way to stay in it. It was 4-4 through four innings of play before the Grenadiers erupted for three runs in the fifth for a 7-4 ball game which they were able to ride out for the win.

Kasey Hickle’s RBI-single in the second pushed HU’s first run across the plate after which Jo Walker knocked in two more with a double to left center in the third. Jess Duvall wrapped up HU’s scoring with an RBI-ground out in the fourth.

Karlee Franklin was charged with the loss after tossing the first four frames during which she gave up six hits, six runs, only one of which was earned, and three walks while striking out three.

With today’s split, the Foresters carry a 5-5 record. Their home opener is Tuesday against IU South Bend.