BASEBALL

The 6th-seeded Huntington baseball team got the job done in the Crossroads League Tournament play-in game, defeating 7th-seeded Spring Arbor 5-2 on Wednesday to punch their ticket to day two.

The Foresters took control early, plating all five of their runs before the Cougars finally cracked the scoreboard in the eighth—too little, too late.

Graham Kollen delivered a stellar performance on the mound, going the distance for the complete-game win. The right-hander allowed just five hits and five walks while giving up two runs and striking out three to anchor the victory.

Offensively, HU struck in the second inning when Beyonce Paco Paulina laid down a bunt to bring in Braden Kauffman, with Dylan Rost scoring on the same play following a Cougar error. Bryce Deckman added to the lead in the third with a solo blast—his sixth home run of the season and 14th of his career.

In the fourth, Deklan Thompson drove in Kauffman with a sacrifice fly, and two innings later, Kauffman came around to score again on a Paulina fielder’s choice.

The win improves Huntington’s record to 25-24 as they await their next opponent, either top-seeded Taylor or 2nd-seeded Saint Francis, in Thursday’s matchup.