BASEBALL

The #16 Forester baseball team brought the bats, and then some, Friday afternoon at Jenkins Stadium, overwhelming Bethel with a pair of lopsided wins, 20-7 and 17-8, to open the four-game series with a sweep.

Huntington piled up 37 runs on 37 hits across the twin bill, launching 13 home runs in a jaw-dropping offensive display.

Game 1 – Huntington 20, Bethel 7 (8 inn.)
It was batting practice in game one.

The Foresters exploded for 21 hits, six of which left the yard, while scoring in all but one inning to cruise to a run-rule-shortened victory.

The top of the order set the tone early and never let up. The first four hitters in the lineup combined for 12 hits, spearheaded by Jace Fowler and Deklan Thompson.

Fowler went 3-for-5 with two home runs, four RBI and a walk, setting the table and delivering damage from the leadoff spot. Thompson followed with a monster day, going 3-for-6 with a dinger, a triple and three RBI – finishing just a double shy of the cycle.

Keifer Wilson added to the onslaught in the three-hole with a 4-for-5 performance that included a solo shot, while Cam Clarkson, at the cleanup spot, finished with two base knocks, including a two-run blast in the sixth, and three RBI. Tanner Reinartz rounded out the list of Foresters to go yard while Kade Flores added a pair of run-scoring singles to account for three runs.

In total, eight different Foresters recorded multiple hits while a hit while ten of HU’s 21 hits were for extra bases.

On the mound, RJ Anglin picked up the win, tossing the first 5.0 innings with six strikeouts. Keegan Shovlain and Brady Schroeder combined to close it out, with Schroeder delivering two scoreless innings.

Game 2 – Huntington 17, Bethel 8
If game one was loud, game two was a full-blown fireworks show.

Huntington racked up 16 hits and seven home runs, with all of their damage, minus one run, coming via the long ball.

Wilson stole the spotlight.

The Oakland City transfer put on an absolute clinic, blasting three home runs and driving in seven RBI as part of a 3-for-4 performance. He now leads the team with 10 homers on the season.

The power surge started early thanks to Owen Imel, who launched a grand slam in the second inning to ignite a seven-run frame. Moments later, Wilson followed with a three-run shot to seemingly blow the game wide open. Bethel kept things interesting, plating five runs in the bottom of the frame by cashing in on seven of their 14 hits, but the Foresters quickly reasserted control and never looked back.

Thompson added another homer to his big day as did Clarkson and Willard as part of HU’s relentless offensive attack.

In addition to Wilson’s monster performance at the plate, Fowler stayed hot, going 3-for-4 with three runs scored and a walk while supporting cast contributions included Pelletier, Thompson and Imel – each logging multiple hits.

Max Engle earned the win on the mound, tossing the first 5.0 innings while striking out two. Carter Walker and Tate Mullens handled the final two frames to secure the sweep.

With the sweep, Huntington improves to 20-5 overall and 10-4 in Crossroads League play. The Foresters return to Jenkins Stadium tomorrow at 1:00 p.m. to wrap up the series with the Pilots.