SOFTBALL

It wasn’t how the Huntington softball team wanted to kick off league play as they came up short twice to Grace, 1-0, 13-7, Wednesday afternoon on their home turf.

Game one was a pitcher’s duel with both hurlers going the distance. Karlee Franklin gave up five hits, one run and two walks while striking out six in the losing but impressive effort.

The Lancers struck in the sixth for the game’s only run by working a walk on either side of a pair of hits that included an RBI-double by Jeri Ellis. In addition to Ellis knocking in the game-winning run, she also notched the shutout in the circle having given up just four hits without issuing a walk and striking out three.

Breanna Hines finished with two of HU’s four hits.

The nightcap saw both teams put points on the board with the visitors having the last say. Grace jumped out to an early 4-0 lead, but HU had two big innings at the plate to keep things interesting.

Huntington’s first outburst was in the third and pulled the hosts within a run of their visitors. After MacKyndsea Burke and Hines both drew walks to kick things off, Mackenzie Walker blasted a shot to left for a double that knocked in Burke after which Courtney Mason found a gap in right to drive in two more runs.

The Lancers padded their advantage to three, 6-3, in the fifth but HU stormed back in their half of the frame to take a lead. Hines set the stage by drawing her third walk of the contest and then it was déjà vu as Walker came up with another run-scoring double to left.

Abigail Reed singled in two more runs with a hard hit grounder into left and in a unique sequence of events, a dropped infield fly gave Reed, on third by then, the opportunity to scamper home for an HU lead of 7-6.

Unfortunately, it was a short-lived advantage as Grace manufactured two runs in the sixth for the go ahead and then put the game out of reach by plating five more in the seventh which included a three-run dinger to cap things off.

Harsh, who came in on relief in the third, was charged with the loss after giving up six hits, seven runs, four of which were earned, and three walks while striking out two.

Walker and Mason each finished with two hits and two RBI to lead the Foresters offensively.

The Foresters (2-9, 0-2) are back in action tomorrow to host Spring Arbor at 3:00 p.m.