SOFTBALL

Day one of the Space Coast Spring Games saw the Huntington softball team drop a 1-0 decision to British Columbia after which Ave Maria handed them a 6-3 loss.

Karlee Franklin had a strong outing in the circle against the Thunderbirds but didn’t get the support she needed from HU’s sticks. The junior hurler allowed just four hits, one run and two walks while striking out six in her seven innings of work.

BC’s lone run came in the fourth when they pieced together a pair of hits for the game-winner.

The Foresters left five runners on base with only one in scoring position having collected just three hits on the morning. Carli Tharp, Courtney Mason and Khloee Gregory each pounded out a base hit.

Huntington’s offense woke up a bit in the second game against Ave Maria. Unfortunately, Ehler and crew had to play catch up all afternoon and never got over the hump. They kept things interesting until the bitter end.

Heading into the top of the seventh down 6-2, with no outs the Foresters loaded the bases only to be thrown out at home on a force out for out number one. An infield popup made for two outs before Tharp came up with a timely single to knock in a run. With two outs and the bases still loaded, HU’s golden opportunity fell by the wayside as closer Ashley Nelson worked a strike out for the final out of the contest.

In addition to Tharp’s RBI-single in the seventh, she also clocked one out of the park in the fourth for HU’s first homerun of the season. Huntington’s other run came by way of Nigella Reck’s sacrifice fly in the sixth.

Kinzie Mollenkopf was charged with the loss having given up six hits, six runs and one walk while fanning three.

The Foresters (0-4) are back in action tomorrow to take on Michigan-Dearborn and Fort Lauderdale.