BASEBALL

The Huntington baseball team returned the favor Friday afternoon to the #RV Taylor Trojans by sweeping their hosts, 11-9, 9-7, Friday afternoon in come-from-behind fashion both times. It avenges yesterday’s two losses to TU and evened up the regular season series 2-2.

The draw still leaves Taylor (23-11, 16-4) one game ahead of the Foresters (21-10, 15-5) in the conference standings.

Just like yesterday’s opener, the base paths were well worn in today’s first game as both teams were full throttle offensively.

After the lead bounced back and forth several times, Sebastian Kuhn’s belted one long for a three-run dinger in the top of the ninth to turn HU’s 9-8 deficit into an 11-9 lead that stood the test of time. Junior Max Meisner made sure of that by retiring the side in order on strikes in the bottom of the ninth.

Meisner offered 1.2 frames of hitless, scoreless relief to be tabbed the winner.

While Meisner slammed the door shut on a Taylor squad known for their offensive firepower, Kuhns’ performance at the plate was equally dazzling. While his late game heroics were the talk of the game, it wasn’t his first escapade. The sophomore catcher unloaded for another three-run blast in the fifth after knocking in another run on an RBI-single in his first at bat.

For the game, Kuhns finished with three hits and seven RBI. Jarret Gray also clocked one out of Winterholter Field with his coming in the eighth. He posted two hits and an RBI as did Tyler Jakob. As a team, Huntington finished with 11 base pokes to Taylor’s ten. The two teams combined for seven homeruns.

Based on how the series had already played out, it wasn’t surprising that the Trojans bolted out to an early 5-0 advantage in the nightcap. It also wasn’t surprising that there was no panic in Frame’s crew as they methodically chipped away at TU’s lead to eventually climb on top 6-5 by the fifth. After their last at bat in regulation, the Foresters led 7-5 but they weren’t counting their chickens just yet.

And for valid reason as the Trojans, who had been uncharacteristically silent for five straight frames, got two back to draw even with their guests in the home half of the seventh. With one out and the winning run just 90 feet from home, the thrill of a walk-off victory was close at hand. But HU snuffed out that notion by turning the double play to send the game to extra innings where they quickly regained control.

Satchell Wilson got things started with a shot to the warning track in right center for a double. After Ian McCutcheon bunted him to third, he trotted home on Langston Ginder’s big bat that cleared the center field fence for a two-run blast. It’s Ginder’s seventh homer this season and proved the game-winning hit as Huntington turned another double play and worked a fielder’s choice for the final out to soak up the sweep.

While Taylor erupted for three homers in their first at bat to make for their quick 5-0 advantage, they would log no more while Huntington matched that total over the course of the afternoon.

Matt Wolff was the first Forester to send one long, a solo shot in the second. Sandwiching the guests’ next homer, a two-run dinger by Max Moser in the fourth, were Ginder and Gray sac flies.  After that, Gray singled in a run and Moser walked in another before Ginder’s mighty swing in the eighth.

Adam Oxley relieved starter Graham Kollen in the sixth. He tossed 1.1 frames to pick up the win and remain perfect on the year at 3-0. He gave up four hits, two runs and a walk while striking out one. Coby Griffith had the tall order of getting the final three outs and didn’t disappoint, having surrender just one hit, to notch the save.

Over the course of the four-game series, the two teams combined for a staggering 25 homeruns with Taylor owning the advantage 16-9. HU returns to Forester Glen on April 5 to host Goshen.