SOFTBALL

The Forester softball team wasted no time taking control Tuesday afternoon at Forester Field, rolling to a 9-1 run-rule win over Taylor before inclement weather halted game two with the Trojans leading 3-0 in the second inning.

With the win, HU improves to 22-17 overall and 14-13 in league play.

Huntington wrapped things up in six innings behind a masterful showing from Kinzie Mollenkopf in the circle paired with an explosive offensive performance.

Mollenkopf was in control from the start, holding Taylor scoreless through the first four innings before surrendering her lone run in the fifth. She finished with six strikeouts while allowing just three hits and three walks across 106 pitches.

The Foresters struck early, plating two runs in the opening frame. Akasha Burton got HU on the board with a sacrifice fly before a Taylor misread in the outfield allowed another run to cross for a 2-0 advantage.

Huntington erupted for six runs in the fourth to blow the game open, sending the lineup back to the top and capitalizing on timely hitting. The inning was highlighted by RBI base knocks from Maddie Goheen, Kailee Bishop, Jess Duvall and Kasey Hickle, as the Foresters piled up seven hits in the frame, including a pair of extra-base hits.

Coach Averill’s crew also executed aggressively on the bases, using a double steal that forced another Taylor miscue while attempting to cut down a run at the plate.

Taylor pushed across a run in the fifth to extend the game, but Huntington quickly responded in the sixth. Carli Tharp sparked the final rally and came around to score on Hickle’s walk-off single to right center, sealing the run-rule victory.

The Foresters finished with 10 hits on the afternoon, led by multi-hit efforts from Hickle (2-for-3, 2 RBI), Tharp (2-for-3, double, RBI, 2 runs) and Goheen (2-for-3, RBI). Bishop and Tharp each recorded doubles, while Kline reached base twice and scored a pair of runs.

Game two is tentatively scheduled for tomorrow at 4:00 p.m.