SOFTBALL

The Huntington softball team outlasted #RV Taylor University 1-0 in Monday’s opener before the Trojans (7-5, 1-3) sought revenge with a 5-2 decision for the series split at Gudakunst Field.

Game one was a pitchers’ duel with HU ace Lairen Miller besting Taylor pitcher Lauren Kanai. Miller limited the Trojans to just two hits while striking out two for her team’s second straight shutout. The sophomore hurler went the distance which included five three and out frames.

The game’s only run came in the top of the third. Kennedy Krull was the first piece of the puzzle when she singled to shallow center. Marty Harris drew a walk and then both baserunners found themselves in scoring position after a Joelle Beals’ sacrifice bunt. Sophia Beachy’s sac fly allowed Kennedy to tag up for what proved the game-winning play.

Huntington posted four hits with Kennedy going 2-for-3 at the plate.

In the nightcap, the Trojans jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the second, added a fourth run in the third and then spent the rest of the afternoon warding off the Foresters to cruise to their first league win.

As HU’s right fielder in the second game, Miller got creative in plating her team’s first run in the top of the fourth. She opened up the frame with a single up the middle, advanced to second on a Trojan throwing error, stole third and then snuck home while Krull, who reached base on the abovementioned error, swiped second.

The Foresters cut the lead in half with another run in the fifth, this time by way of Paige Eichelberger’s RBI-single, to close to the gap to 4-2 but the Trojans fired right back by touching home in the bottom of the frame for a 5-2 tilt that stood.

Down to their last out, Gower’s crew rallied with back-to-back singles but Darby Shaw struck out what represented the tying run to pick up the save in her one inning of relief. The inning saw two runners left on base for HU and it was all-too-common for the visitors as they left ten stranded for the contest.

Both teams finished with seven hits and two errors. Meghan Fretz was charged with the loss for Huntington. She tossed the first four frames to give up six hits, four runs, three earned, and three walks while striking out two. Courtney Moriarty, the first of three TU pitchers to take the circle, picked up the win.

Eichelberger posted two hits and an RBI to pace Huntington offensively.

The Foresters (6-6, 5-1) are back in action for their home opener against Indiana Tech on Thursday at 3:00 p.m.