SOFTBALL

In a conference clash with their neighbors to the south, the HU softball team traded wins with #RV Taylor (17-7, 5-3) Tuesday afternoon. The Trojans outlasted the Foresters 2-1 in the opener before the hosts returned the favor with a 6-5 decision in the nightcap. The loss snapped TU’s five-game win streak.

Game one was a pitcher’s duel with the Trojan staff eventually winning the battle. All the game’s scoring happened in the fifth with TU stringing together three hits and taking advantage of a wild throw to touch home twice. Huntington got one back in the bottom of the frame when Sophia Beachy roped a shot to left-center to double in Mara Lorkowski who had just worked a walked.

The Foresters threatened in the sixth, leaving two stranded. They continued to pressure the Trojans by loading the bases in their last at-bat but unfortunately couldn’t convert with closer Cassy Lewis calmly pitching her way out of the jam to pick up the save while Maddie Evans notched the win.

When all the dust settled, HU collected eight hits to Taylor’s five and left ten runners on base. Breanna Hines finished 3-for-4 from the plate while Beachy finished with two base pokes and an RBI.

Adelyn Harsh was charged with the loss. In 6.1 innings of work, the rookie hurler gave up four hits and two runs, only one of which was earned, and two walks while striking out three.

The nightcap saw the Foresters once again outhit their visitors, 10-9, but this time Gower’s crew was able to cash in on their opportunities at a higher rate. The Trojans struck first in their opening at-bat but not only was it short-lived, it also proved their only advantage of the contest.

The second frame was a big at-bat for the Foresters. After singles by Abigail Reed, Darby Minor and Beachy to load the bases, Kennedy Krull sent her first pitch into a gap in left-center to drive in a pair of runs after which Hines found the same spot to bring in Beachy and Krull for a 4-1 lead.

By the middle of the fourth, Taylor had knotted things up at 4-4 but Krull again came up big for HU with her second RBI-hit of the game, this time by way of a double, to give her team a permanent advantage. Kaela Robey’s RBI-single in the fifth was an insurance run turned game-winner as the Trojans pieced together back-to-back doubles in the top of the seventh to pull within one before McKyndsea Burke worked a fly-out for the last out.

Burke tossed the final 3.1 innings, allowing just three hits, a run and a walk while striking out two for her first  win of the season.

Krull led the charge offensively with two hits and three RBI. Hines was also a force to be reckoned with at the plate by tallying a pair of hits and just as many RBI.

The Foresters (12-8, 3-3) hit the road tomorrow to face Spring Arbor. Opening pitch is slated for 3:00 p.m.