SOFTBALL

Each team left the HU softball field with a shutout Friday afternoon with Grace blanking the Foresters 2-0 in the opener after which the hosts sent the Lancers (10-25, 9-21) home with a 5-0 loss in the nightcap. The two squads split in their first matchup of the season to wrap up the regular season series evenly at 2-2.

Huntington outhit their guests 5-4 in game one but couldn’t translate that into runs on the board as evidenced by leaving seven baserunners stranded. The Lancers, on the other hand, got the job done in the third thanks to a hard-hit single to left by Cassie Hayes that drove in both runs.

Karlee Franklin took the loss for Rethlake and crew having given up four hits, two runs and three walks while striking out six. Jessica Duvall finished with two of her team’s five hits.

Game two saw the Foresters turn things around by making the most of their opportunities. Carli Tharp got HU on the board in the second with an RBI-single. Two frames later, the hosts padded their advantage by three compliments of timely hitting preceded by two hit batters and a base on balls.

Jenessa Hasty ripped a shot up the middle with bases loaded to drive in two runs after which Breanna Hines capitalized on an infield single to plate another.

Khloee Gregory then added one more insurance run in the fifth. After working a free pass, she advanced to second on a wild pitch, made her way to third on a ground out and then slipped home on a wild pitch.

Maddie Turner went the distance in the circle to earn the complete-game shutout. She tossed a dandy, scattering four hits and two walks while striking out eight of the 27 batters she faced.

The Foresters (18-23, 13-17) are at home again tomorrow to honor their seniors before squaring off with Taylor at 1:00 p.m.