SOFTBALL

The HU softball team couldn’t overcome an early deficit, dropping a 6-3 decision to the Taylor Trojans Thursday afternoon at Forester Field.

The contest resumed after being halted Tuesday due to storms, with Taylor carrying a 3-0 lead into the restart – all coming off Madisyn Standridge’s three-run homer in the opening frame. That early swing proved to be the difference as both teams traded blows down the stretch.

Despite being without three seniors from the usual starting lineup due to academic commitments, Huntington stayed within striking distance throughout.

After a few quiet innings, action picked up in the fifth with the Foresters breaking through. After loading the bases, Josslynn Harbert delivered a two-out infield single to plate Carli Tharp and cut the deficit to 3-1.

Taylor answered in the sixth with an RBI triple and sac fly to extend its lead to 5-1, but HU refused to go quietly. The Foresters capitalized on a Trojan miscue in the bottom half of the inning, scoring two unearned runs to pull within 5-3. The Trojans tacked on an insurance run in the seventh and then shut the door, retiring the side in order to seal the win.

Huntington finished with five hits and worked five walks but stranded nine runners. Makinzie Kline led the way at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a walk and a run scored, while Maddie Goheen added a hit and drew two walks. Harbert accounted for HU’s lone RBI.

In the circle, Bethany Haselby went the distance, striking out five while allowing six runs on nine hits to be charged with the loss.

The Foresters earned a split in the two-game set after opening the series with a 9-1, six-inning win on Tuesday. Combined with their earlier sweep of Taylor this season, Huntington claims the overall series 3-1.

Next up, the Foresters hit the road for a pair of conference matchups, traveling to face Spring Arbor on Friday at 3:00 p.m. before taking on Goshen Saturday at 1:00 p.m.