BASEBALL

The bats came alive for the 3rd-seeded Forester baseball team in the eighth on the way to a 6-3 win over 6th-seeded Marian (24-28) in the opening game of the Crossroads League Tournament Friday at IWU’s Wildcat Field.

Daniel Lichty led off with a blooper into left. Ian McCutcheon kept it going with a shot down the left field line after which Langston Ginder laid down a perfect bunt to load the bases.

It set the stage for Satchell Wilson to lace a double to right-center that cleared the bases. Camden Dice knocked in Wilson, who had stolen third, with an RBI-ground out to turn HU’s 3-2 deficit into a 6-3 lead that stood the test of time.

Wilson’s two-bagger was his second base knock of the day with his first coming in the opening frame when he drove in a run on a single up the middle. It was the first of two runs HU would plate in the inning with the second coming on an errant throw by the IWU catcher on a dropped third strike.

The Knights matched Huntington’s two-run lead in the top of the second on a botched play and would go on take the lead in the seventh on a sacrifice fly before the Foresters went to work in the eighth.

Mason Shinabery tossed a gem to earn his eighth win of the season. The senior hurler gave up six hits and three runs, only one of which was earned, while striking out ten of the 30 batters he faced in eight innings of work. Reliever Brent Turner  worked a 1-2-3 ninth to pick up the save.

Wilson collected a pair of hits and four RBI to pace HU at the plate while Ian McCutcheon finished with two base pokes and scored twice.

The Foresters (32-14) advance to the next round of the tourney where they will face 2nd-seeded Taylor tomorrow at 1:00 p.m.