BASEBALL

The Huntington baseball team opened up its series with Bethel (12-12, 5-7) by sweeping their hosts, 9-8, 13-1, Thursday afternoon at Jenkins Stadium.

While HU never trailed in the opener, it wasn’t until the fifth their lead turned permanent. Although the guests held the lead for half the contest, it was never safe as BU kept within striking distance until the bitter end.

Down to the last out with two Pilots on base representing the tying and go ahead run, Max Meisner was called up from the bullpen to face BU lead-off Andrew Miranda who had already posted four hits which included a two-run dinger. The junior southpaw answered the call by coaxing Miranda into lining out to preserve the win and collect the save.

Grant Simmons picked up the win by tossing the first 5.1 innings during which he fanned six while surrendering eight hits, four runs and three walks.

Offense was by committee for HU as six different Foresters drove in at least one run. Ian McCutcheon finished with three hits which included a two-run double. He also logged a sac fly to finish with three RBI. DH Max Moser claimed his team’s only dinger of the game on his way to posting four hits. Langston Ginder also finished with four base pokes, two of which were doubles, to go along with an RBI.

When all was said and done, Huntington tallied 15 hits and scored in six of the nine innings.

The Foresters were even more productive at the plate in game two as they converted 12 hits, seven for extra bases, into 13 runs with Ginder’s output fueling the nightcap. He once again hammered out four hits in addition to touching home four times and driving in just as many runs. He opened up scoring with an RBI-double in the first, singled in HU’s final run in the seventh and sent one yard for a two-run blast in the fourth.

Jordan Malott also knocked one out of the park. They both have five homers on the season. The long balls were two of seven RBI-hits. Huntington also tagged up on three sac flies, snuck home on a double steal and took advantage of an error to round out some creative scoring.

While HU carried their offensive prowess into game two, that was not the case for the Pilots. Tyler Papenbrock made sure of the that. For the first six innings, he nullified Bethel at the plate. He gave up just one hit and three walks while striking out six after which Riley McMahon took over in the seventh to finish out the contest.

With these two wins, Huntington improves to 18-7 overall, 12-2 in league play. The Foresters, currently tied with #RV Taylor for the top spot in the conference standings, are headed back to Mishawaka tomorrow to finish their series with the Pilots.