BASEBALL

The Huntington baseball team kicked off their trip to Kentucky Thursday afternoon at Tracy Farmer-Don Ball Stadium by splitting a doubleheader with #RV Midway. After taking game one, 4-3, the Foresters dropped a heartbreaker, 9-8.

Matt Wolff was the hero of the opener with his three-run blast in the top of the fifth to turn HU’s 3-1 deficit into a 4-3 lead that stood the test of time. His dinger sailed over the left field fence for his second homer of the year.

Huntington’s first run didn’t require any base pokes. It started with two walks and then an error that allowed Jordan Malott, who drew the first base on balls, to score from second. It knotted things up at 1-1 in the fourth before the hosts plated twice in their half of the frame to set up the 3-1 score heading into the fifth.

Noah Arbuckle earned the win, giving up five hits, three runs, two of which were earned, and two walks while striking out four in six innings of work. Closer Max Meisner tossed the final frame issuing a walk but working three fly outs to collect the save.

Just like game one, the fifth inning of the nightcap was Huntington’s strongest at bat. Down 4-2 heading into the frame, Wolff got things started with a lead-off double. Back-to-back walks loaded up the bases for Bryce Deckman’s sac fly followed by Dylan Rost’s two-run double. Rost then cruised home on an error to wrap up HU’s five-run inning for a 7-4 lead.

The Eagles got one back in the bottom of the sixth, but it seemed Rost was putting the finishes touches on the game when he sent one yard in the seventh to keep it a three-run difference with three outs remaining. Unfortunately that’s not how it played out for Frame and crew.

Midway loaded the bases by way of an error and two walks and then drew a third walk to score the first run of their comeback. The Eagles then got their bats going with a two-run double followed by a walk-off single to complete the come-from-behind victory.

Six Foresters spent time on the mound with Tyler Papenbrock getting the starting nod. He threw the first four frames and gave up three hits, four runs and five walks while striking out seven for the no decision. It was Meisner who was charged with the loss. He started the seventh and surrendered the four runs, three of which were earned, and the three walks.

HU outhit their hosts 9-6 with Rost pacing his team with two hits, which included his dinger, and three RBI. Wolff, Deckman and Ryne Wheeler also posted a pair of base pokes with Wheeler and Deckman each logging an RBI. Jordan Malott added a run-scoring single while Gregory Nolasco Berroa was credited with RBI by way of a sac fly.

The Foresters (2-3) take on Georgetown twice tomorrow starting at noon before heading back to HU.