BASEBALL

The #RV HU baseball team opened their series at Bethel with two wins, 3-2, 5-3, Friday afternoon at Jenkins Stadium to improve to 14-4 overall, 7-3 in league play.

Great teams find a way to win and game one was proof of that. Despite logging just four hits to BU’s six, the Foresters made the most of their opportunities to score twice in their first at-bat with Daniel Lichty’s two-bagger into left driving in Ian McCutcheon who had reached on a dropped fly. An alert Langston Ginder snuck home on the same play by advancing on the throw.

The Pilots (4-19, 1-9) countered in the bottom of the second to knot things up at 2-2. While the scoreboard would suggest radio silence over the next six innings, the stretch didn’t come without its threats with the most notable in the bottom of the seventh. The hosts, after forcing a pitching change, loaded the bases but were denied by reliever Brent Turner who teased a strikeout for the third out to get his team out of the jam.

It was three up, three down for both teams in the eighth but the ninth proved a different story. Alex McCutcheon drew a two-out walk to set up Camden Dice’s shot off the wall in right center to knock in what proved the game-winner. But Bethel didn’t go down without a fight. A sun-aided dropped fly put the tying run on second after which a bunt for a base hit landed base-runners on the corners with no outs.

Turner worked his magic again, this time working a pair of line outs before notching his second critical strikeout to end things and earn the win. In 2.2 innings of work, he gave up just one hit and a walk while striking out two.

Owen Young fueled Huntington’s offense in the nightcap by driving in two runs, one on an RBI-infield single in the first and the second on an RBI-double in the third. He finished with three hits and two RBI. Jarret Gray also posted an RBI on a fielder’s choice in his first at-bat.

The Foresters had help with their other two runs which included a wild throw in the third that allowed Ginder, who led off the frame with a double, to cruise home. Dice was the other recipient of some extra assistance. After pounding out his second double of the day, his fifth of the season, the pitcher-turned-hitter advanced to third on a passed ball and then came around to score on a wild pitch to add another insurance run to his team’s total.

It was a game that the guests never trailed but, just like the opener, Bethel didn’t go down quietly. With two outs in the bottom of the seventh, the Pilots landed two on base compliments of a hit batter and single to bring the go ahead run to the plate. Coach Frame went to closer Ian McCutcheon who coaxed Alex Stout into swinging at a pitch high and inside for his third strike. It was McCutcheon’s third save of the season.

Alex McCutcheon (3-1) spent the first 4.2 innings on the mount to pick up the win. The senior southpaw gave up five hits, two runs and two walks while striking out one.

Huntington heads back to Mishawaka tomorrow for another doubleheader with the Pilots at 1:00 p.m.