SOFTBALL

Up against a national powerhouse, the HU softball team dropped a doubleheader, 8-1, 8-7, to IU Southeast (15-5) Saturday afternoon at Koetter Sports Softball Complex. With these two losses, the Foresters drop to 9-5 on the year.

The #22 Grenadiers owned game one starting in the second when they touched home three times. They tacked on four more runs before Huntington pushed a run across home plate on a Kiera Stacy sac fly in the sixth. IUSE countered HU’s only run in their half of the frame to make for the 8-1 final.

Meghan Fretz took the loss for Huntingtin, giving up eight hits and five runs while striking out one in four innings of work. Breanna Hines and Abigail Reed pounded out two hits apiece to account for all but two of their team’s hits.

The nightcap had a completely different feel. The hosts jumped out to a 4-0 lead in their first at-bat, but the Foresters didn’t panic. Instead, they methodically not only worked their way back in it, but took over the lead at 7-4 by the top of the fifth.

IUSE’s bats were quiet during HU’s three-inning comeback but came back to life in their half of the fifth to close the gap to two before unleashing for three runs in the sixth to climb back on top. The Foresters had the tying run on second in the top of the seventh, but the Grenadiers worked the final out to thwart the threat and extend their win streak over Huntington to four.

Five of Huntington’s seven runs were a result of RBI-hits by Courtney Mason, Hannah Shoupe, Hines, Darby Minor and Kaela Robey with Robey’s a solo homer in the top of the fifth.

Adelyn Harsh spent the last five innings in the circle to be charged with the loss having given up ten hits, four runs and three walks while striking out one.

The Foresters kick off league play on Tuesday at Saint Francis.