SOFTBALL

After running away from their hosts, 15-4, in the opener, the Huntington softball team came up short in the nightcap, 8-7, to Spring Arbor to move to 13-9 overall, 4-4 in league play.

The Cougars started out strong in the opener, scoring all four of their runs in the first two frames, before freshman Adelyn Harsh shut them down. The Caston High School product spent the last 5.1 innings in the circle where she scattered six hits but denied SAU any more runs to pick up her fifth win of the season.

Harsh had plenty of offensive support from her teammates. The Foresters erupted for a season-tying 18 hits. It’s the eleventh time this season they’ve amassed double-digit hits. In addition to their hot bats, Huntington also drew five walks and took advantage of four Spring Arbor errors on their way to scoring a season-high 15 runs.

Contributions were far and wide with freshmen Courtney Mason and Darby Minor highlighting Gower’s squad.  Mason posted two hits, both doubles, a sacrifice bunt squeeze and a walk to the tune of five RBI while Darby Minor went 4-for-5 at the plate and recorded two RBI. Kaela Robey finished with two hits and two RBI as did her high school teammate Jenessa Hasty. This afternoon marked Hasty’s season debut after being saddled by injury.

Mara Lorkowski and Breanna Hines also pounded out two base pokes each in addition to knocking in two and one runs respectively.  The Foresters scored in all but the fourth inning to make for the lopsided affair.

The nightcap did not prove so fruitful for the guests. While HU still managed to rack up 13 hits to SAU’s 11, they were plagued by errors. Huntington committed six blunders to the tune of five unearned runs. Despite their uncharacteristic play defensively, the Foresters still managed to stay in it.

HU claimed the lead on two difference occasions before the Cougars established a permanent advantage of 8-6 heading into the seventh where Lorkowski doubled in Sophia Beachy who led off the frame with a single to right. Lorkowski represented the tying run but unfortunately was never able to find her way home to stifle HU’s bid at a come-from-behind win.

Beachy and Jada Crofoot racked up three hits apiece with Beachy also tallying an RBI. Minor added two hits and two RBI while Abigail Reed, Robey and Lorkowski each drove in a run.

Meghan Fretz took the loss for HU, giving up two hits and three runs, all of which were unearned, in two innings of work.

The Foresters are back on the road Saturday to take on Bethel at 1:00 p.m.