SOFTBALL

The HU softball team went 0-2 on the road against #10 Marian Saturday afternoon to drop to 11-9 overall which includes a 3-3 league record.

Game one was a bit of a rollercoaster for both teams. After skirting out to an early 2-0 lead, HU watched their advantage dissolve into a 2-2 deadlock in the fourth before things unraveled in the fifth. The Knights unleashed for seven runs to swing the pendulum in their favor 9-2.

But Ehler’s crew fought back. Carli Tharp knocked in two runs in the sixth with a double into left. HU’s grit carried into the seventh. After back-to-back singles by Kasey Hickle and Gena Moore, Bree Hines found a hole in right center for an RBI-single. Jess Duvall then made it 9-6 with a sac fly after which a Marian error allowed Hines to touch home.

Unfortunately their late-game come-from-behind campaign was cut short when closer Lauren Mayer worked a strikeout and ground out to silence the guests while the hosts breathed a sigh of relief.

Karlee Franklin was charged with the loss having given up three hits, seven runs and four walks while striking out one in 1.1 innings of work. Starting pitcher Emma Payton pitched on either side of Franklin’s time in the circle for the no decision. She tossed 4.2 frames during which she surrendered four hits, two runs and a walk.

Huntington outhit the Knights 11-7. Hines and Tharp each pounded out two hits and claimed two RBI. Hickle finished 3-for-3 at the plate with an RBI and scored twice.

Just like the opener, the Foresters didn’t go down without a fight in the nightcap. Heading into the fifth down 10-0, the Foresters fought to not get run-ruled. Back-to-back doubles resulted in a run with Khloee Gregory claiming the RBI-double. Three batters later she came around to score on Hickle’s infield single but that’s where their comeback came up short but not before they had logged four hits in the frame.

HU had managed just two hits before that to finish with six for the game. Astonishingly, the Knights needed just five hits to skunk the Foresters as six Huntington errors doomed the visitors.

Natalie Haselby didn’t last an inning to be tagged with the loss. She spent 0.2 innings on the mound to give up five hits, eight runs and a walk while striking out one. Kinzie Mollenkopf tossed the final 3.1 frames where she didn’t give up any hits or walks but was charged with two unearned runs while fanning one batter.

The Foresters hit the road again on Tuesday to face Saint Francis at 3:00 p.m.