SOFTBALL

The Huntington softball team (10-2) split their Space Coast Games Thursday afternoon, first dropping a 3-2 decision to Trinity Christian and then running away with a five-inning 9-1 decision against Waldorf.

It was a wave of emotion for the Foresters in game one against the Trolls. After falling behind 1-0, HU found new life thanks to a Trinity Christian error that allowed Carli Tharp to scamper around the bases to even things up 1-1 in the third. TCC found home again in the fourth to climb back on top but in true Forester fashion, Coach Averill’s team rallied in the seventh by way of a Jess Duvall RBI-infield single to force the game’s second tie.

Unfortunately, TCC took a page out of HU’s book, mounting their own rally in the bottom of the seventh with a walk-off RBI-single bringing an abrupt end to the game.

Duvall finished with two of Huntington’s five hits.

After Bethany Haselby tossed the first five frames, Karlee Franklin stepped into the circle and was charged with the loss. The senior hurler gave up four hits and two runs in 1.1 innings of relief.

Shortly after, the Foresters took their loss out on Waldorf. It took HU a few innings to get back into the swing of it but once they did, they were swift to take care of business in five frames compliments of the run-rule.

Moore stole home for Huntington’s first run in the third and then the fourth rolled around and totally changed the trajectory of the contest. The Warriors struck first in the top of the frame to knot things up at 1-1 but then it was HU’s turn. With bases loaded, Jess Duvall singled in a run. Moore’s sacrifice fly brought in another after which Maddie Duvall and Kylie Fisher each drove in a pair of runs with hits to center field, Duvall’s a single and Fisher’s a double.

The inning blew the game open at 7-1. Kinzie Mollenkopf and Maddie Goheen put the finishing touches on the afternoon with back-to-back RBI singles in the fifth to extend the lead to eight which was enough to call it quits.

Nine different Foresters hammered out a base hit with Jess Duvall accounting for two to go along with just as many RBI.

Natalie Haselby tossed a dandy to earn the complete-game win. In her five innings of work, she gave up just four hits, a run and two walks while striking out five.

Huntington’s time in Florida is winding down. Tomorrow the Foresters take on Hannibal-LaGrange, who they beat 5-1 on Sunday, before wrapping up the week against Cornerstone.