SOFTBALL

Less than 24 hours after stunning #4 Georgia Gwinnett, Huntington returned to the Grizzly Softball Complex Saturday morning and knocked off #24 Rio Grande, 5-4, behind another composed outing from junior ace Kinzie Mollenkopf. The Foresters couldn’t complete the sweep of the day, however, as Georgia Gwinnett responded with an 8-0 mercy-rule victory in the afternoon rematch.

With the split, HU heads north at 2-2 with two Top-25 wins already in its pocket.

Game One – Huntington 5, #24 Rio Grande 4
A cool and calm Mollenkopf was dazzling through five innings, scattering four hits and holding the RedStorm scoreless while her offense built a cushion. She finished the afternoon allowing seven hits and four runs while striking out four and working around four walks.

Huntington struck first in the fourth when Maddie Duvall singled to open the inning and eventually came around to score on an error.

The sixth inning provided the fireworks. Jess Duvall launched a solo homer to open the frame, sparking a four-run outburst. Khloee Gregory doubled in a run, Kailee Bishop added a sac fly and Makinzie Kline ripped an RBI single as HU tallied five runs on 10 hits overall with just one strikeout as a team.

Maddie Duvall paced the offense with a 2-for-4 outing and two runs scored. Kline and Kalyn Greene each added two hits, while Gregory drove in two.

But the drama wasn’t over. In the bottom of the sixth, HU transfer Nigella Reck delivered a grand slam to suddenly trim the lead to 5-4. With the momentum shifting and the seventh looming, Mollenkopf didn’t flinch. She responded with a 1-2-3 final inning to slam the door and secure Huntington’s second ranked win in as many days.

Game Two – Georgia Gwinnett 8, Huntington 0 (6 innings)
The rematch belonged to the hosts. Georgia Gwinnett wasted little time applying pressure, scoring in every inning of the shortened six-frame contest. The Grizzlies outhit HU 9-3, swiped four bases and capitalized on four Forester errors to pull away early.

Huntington managed three hits — one each from Kasey Hickle, Maddie Duvall and Kline — but couldn’t generate sustained offense against Tatum Helsom, who tossed a complete-game shutout with three strikeouts.

Bethany Haselby struck out six over 3.1 innings in the circle before Natalie Haselby finished the final 1.2 frames.

Despite the afternoon setback, Huntington leaves Georgia with two ranked wins and valuable early-season momentum. The Foresters proved they can trade punches with the nation’s best — and win.

The Foresters make the short trip to Fort Wayne on Wednesday to square off against Indiana Tech with opening pitch of the doubleheader slated for 2:00 p.m.