BASEBALL

The #25 Forester baseball team took care of business Monday afternoon at Forest Glen, sweeping Goshen 12-3 and 4-0 to close out the series in style. After dropping the opener earlier in the set, Huntington responded with authority, winning three straight to secure the 3-1 series victory.

With the sweep, HU improves to 26-9 overall and 16-8 in league play.

Game 1 – Huntington 12, Goshen 3
It didn’t take long for the Foresters to seize control.

Huntington exploded for seven runs in the second inning, batting around and turning a 0-0 contest into a runaway. After Owen Willard launched a two-run homer to open the scoring, the floodgates followed. A bases-loaded hit-by-pitch plated another before Keifer Wilson delivered the knockout blow – a grand slam to right that made it 7-0 in a hurry.

HU mixed patience and power all afternoon, drawing seven walks and capitalizing on multiple hit batters. The Foresters finished with 12 runs on eight hits, highlighted by Wilson’s four RBI day and a big performance from Tanner Reinartz, who went 3-for-4 with a triple and two RBI.

Cam Clarkson added a pair of doubles and two RBI, while Willard chipped in two RBI and a homer.

On the mound, Grant Simmons earned the win, tossing five innings – striking out three while allowing three runs. The bullpen locked things down from there, combining for four scoreless frames with three strikeouts and no hits allowed.

Game 2 – Huntington 4, Goshen 0
If game one was about offense, game two belonged to the arms.

Huntington’s pitching staff turned in a one-hit shutout, needing just 78 total pitches in an ultra-efficient performance. Keegan Shovlain set the tone with three hitless innings and three strikeouts to earn the win. He was backed by Gabe Hamrick, Carter Wilkinson, and Dylan Eggl, who combined to allow just one hit over the final four frames.

Offensively, Wilson stayed hot, coming through again with the bases loaded – this time ripping a two-run double to give HU the lead in the third. The Foresters added insurance in the fourth behind an RBI double from Aiden Riser and a sacrifice fly by Willard.

Wilson finished the nightcap with two hits and two RBI, while Riser went 2-for-3 with a double and RBI as HU totaled six hits and five walks.

Huntington’s scheduled midweek game with Manchester has been canceled. The Foresters return to action Friday with a short trip to Winona Lake to take on Grace at 3:00 p.m.