SOFTBALL

The HU softball team continued their winning ways Wednesday afternoon by snagging two more wins, a 9-1 decision over Michigan-Dearborn followed by a 5-0 shutout over Fort Lauderdale, at the Space Coast Games in the Sunshine State.

Up against the Wolverines in the opener, the Foresters found themselves in a 1-0 hole through the first three frames but got their sticks warmed up by the fourth to erupt for nine runs.

Three straight hits to start the fourth with an error along the way gave HU the go ahead at 2-1. By the time all was said and done, Huntington logged 15 at-bats in the frame. In addition to RBI-hits by Kylie Fisher, who finished with two, Gena Moore and Khloee Gregory, Kasey Hickle walked in a run while Jo Walker was hit by a pitch, both scenarios with the bases loaded.

UMD had the top of the fifth to avoid being mercy ruled but Natalie Haselby put the clamps on any hopes of that happening. With one out the junior southpaw gave up her only walk of the day, but followed up with a strikeout and then coaxed the next batter into popping up to Moore for the final two outs. She wrapped up the contest having given up three hits and a run while striking out two on the way to a complete-game victory.

Fisher finished 2-for-3 at the plate with three RBI. All but one of Huntington’s seven hits came in their prosperous fourth inning. Today’s five-inning affair is the second time this week HU has cut a game two innings short.

Against the Eagles in game two, Huntington skirted out to a 5-0 lead after their first two at-bats which proved more than enough to claim the win. Moore drove in her team’s first run with a line drive into left in the top of the first for an early 1-0 lead.

The second inning featured a little small ball by Averill’s club. With runners on the corners, Carli Tharp knocked in a run on a fielder’s choice. Hickle followed that up with a sacrifice fly and then Jess Duvall’s ground ball allowed another run to score. The final three frames quietly came and went to make for the 5-0 final.

Kinzie Mollenkopf continues to terrorize her opponents. She tossed another complete-game shutout, scattering just four hits and a walk while fanning five for her third clean sheet of the season.

As part of the Space Coast Games, HU was Fort Lauderdale’s fourth Crossroads League matchup of the week with the Eagles topping Goshen, Bethel and Spring Arbor before being blanked by the Foresters.

With these wins, Huntington improves to 9-1 on the year. They take on Trinity Christian and Waldorf tomorrow starting at 12:15 p.m.