SOFTBALL

The Forester softball team showed both firepower and resilience Tuesday afternoon at Forester Field, sweeping Goshen 10-3 and 8-7 in a doubleheader that featured a breakout inning in game one and a gritty comeback in the nightcap.

It marks HU’s fourth doubleheader sweep of the year. Second-year head coach Tim Averill improves to 5-1 all-time against the Maple Leafs (9-15, 3-9) as Huntington continues to have the upper hand in the series.

Game 1 – Huntington 10, Goshen 3
Huntington struck first in the opening frame, manufacturing a run when Josslynn Harbert came home on a passed ball for an early 1-0 edge.

Goshen answered in a big way in the second behind Goshen pitcher Esme Pico, who launched a two-run homer to flip the score in favor of the visitors, 2-1. HU quickly countered in the bottom half when Kasey Hickle roped a triple to plate Carli Tharp and even things up at 2-2.

The Maple Leafs nudged back in front in the fourth, 3-2, but that’s when the Foresters took complete control.

Huntington erupted for six runs in the bottom of the fourth, doing most of the damage with two outs. The rally started with traffic on the bases before Maddie Duvall lifted a sacrifice fly to tie the game. Moments later, Makinzie Kline delivered a two-run single to give HU the lead for good.

Patience at the plate kept the inning alive as three straight walks followed, including an RBI free pass to Maddie Goheen. Akasha Burton then delivered the biggest blow of the inning, ripping a two-run single to right to stretch the lead to 8-3.

The Foresters weren’t done. Harbert later used her speed to turn a single into a run in the sixth, scoring on a throwing error during a stolen base attempt, and Kailee Bishop capped the scoring with an RBI single to seal the 10-3 win.

Huntington totaled 12 hits in the opener, led by Kline’s 3-for-4, two-RBI effort. Bishop added two hits, while Harbert scored three times and swiped two bases.

In the circle, Kinzie Mollenkopf went the distance, allowing just six hits and three runs while striking out three to earn the complete-game victory.

Game 2 – Huntington 8, Goshen 7
If game one was about the big inning, game two was all about the comeback.

Goshen came out swinging, erupting for five runs in the third inning on a string of timely hits to take a commanding 5-0 lead.

Huntington began chipping away in the bottom of the inning. With two outs and down in the count, Maddie Goheen came through with a clutch two-run single to cut the deficit to 5-2.

The momentum continued in the fourth when Kline ripped a double into the gap to score two more and pull HU within one at 5-4.

After Goshen added a run in the fifth to make it 6-4, the Foresters delivered their decisive blow in the sixth.

Kline got things started with a sacrifice fly to trim the deficit to one before Goheen stepped up again—this time delivering the knockout punch. With the bases loaded, she drove a double to the center field fence, clearing the bases and giving Huntington its first lead of the game at 8-6.

Goshen made things interesting in the seventh when Pico struck again, this time lacing an RBI double to cut the lead to 8-7. But that would be as close as the Maple Leafs would get, as Natalie Haselby recorded the final out to secure the sweep.

Goheen powered the offense with a 2-for-3 performance and five RBI, while Kline continued her standout day with two hits and three RBI. Kayelee Dudzik added a perfect 3-for-3 showing and scored twice as HU finished with 11 hits.

Haselby went the distance in the circle, scattering 12 hits while striking out three to earn the hard-fought win.

Up Next
Huntington returns to Forester Field on Saturday to host Saint Francis with first pitch set for 1:00 p.m.