SOFTBALL

The Forester softball team ran into a tough Spring Arbor squad Saturday afternoon at Forester Field, dropping both ends of the doubleheader 6-4 and 6-5.

It marked Huntington’s third doubleheader in as many days, and despite late pushes in both games, the Foresters came up just short each time.

Game 1 – Spring Arbor 6, Huntington 4
Huntington dug itself an early hole it couldn’t quite climb out of.

The Cougars struck for all six of their runs over the first five innings, building a 6-0 cushion while limiting HU to just two hits through the first five frames behind a dominant showing from starter Emilee Underwood.

The Foresters finally broke through in the sixth – and made it count.

Taking advantage of a Spring Arbor error, HU got on the board before Kailee Bishop delivered a run-scoring single. Moments later, pinch hitter Akasha Burton came through with a run-scoring knock to cap a three-run inning and cut the deficit in half.

Huntington wasn’t done.

In the seventh, the Foresters loaded the bases with a mix of patience and timely hitting, highlighted by a Maddie Duvall blooper into left center. Bishop then worked a bases-loaded walk to make it 6-4 with the bases still loaded.

But the rally stalled there. Underwood returned to the circle and recorded a swinging strikeout to preserve the win.

Despite the loss, HU showed discipline at the plate with five walks and totaled seven hits, with Maddie Duvall leading the way with two knocks while Bishop drove in a pair.

Kinzie Mollenkopf took the loss, allowing six runs on eight hits over 4.1 innings, while Bethany Haselby was sharp in relief, tossing 2.2 scoreless frames.

Game 2 – Spring Arbor 6, Huntington 5
Game two delivered drama from start to finish.

Huntington struck first on a Maddie Duvall sac fly in the opening inning, but Spring Arbor answered with a solo homer in the second and took the lead in the third.

After a few quiet middle innings, the Foresters surged back in the sixth.

Kasey Hickle delivered the big swing, ripping a two-RBI single to right center to put HU back in front, 3-2. Hickle finished 3-for-4 at the plate with two RBI to headline a 10-hit effort for Huntington.

But the Cougars had the final answer.

In the top of the seventh, Spring Arbor loaded the bases and, with two outs, delivered back-to-back doubles to the warning track, plating four runs to flip the game. Huntington made one last push in the bottom half.

After drawing a walk to open the inning, Maddie Duvall came around to score on a Khloee Gregory double. Bishop followed with an RBI groundout to trim the deficit to one, but the rally ran out of steam with the tying run at the plate.

Josslynn Harbert added a perfect 2-for-2 day with two walks and a pair of stolen bases, while Gregory and Bishop each drove in a run.

In the circle, Bethany Haselby got the start before Natalie Haselby worked the final 2.2 innings and was charged with the loss.

With the pair of losses, Huntington moves to 15-9 overall and 7-5 in Crossroads League play. The Foresters return to action Tuesday at 3:00 p.m. when they host Goshen.