SOFTBALL

The Huntington softball team came up short twice to Taylor, 7-6, 6-1, Friday afternoon. With these losses, HU drops to 11-11 overall, 3-5 in CL action.

While the day didn’t go as Ehler and her crew had hoped, game one was another example of the hosts’ grittiness as their late-game surge came up short. After digging themselves in a 4-0 hole after three innings of play, the Foresters began their quest to get back in it.

Courtney Mason cut TU’s lead in half with a two-run single in the fourth only to have the visitors get both runs back in the top of the fifth. Not to be outdone, the Foresters pieced together an impressive two-out rally that included four straight base knocks that resulted in four runs for a 6-6 deadlock.

With two on which included her sister Jess, Maddie Duvall singled in HU’s first run of the frame. The Duvall twins both touched home on Khloee Gregory’s double through the left side after which Gregory scored on a second Mason run-scoring base poke.

Unfortunately, the Trojans had the final say with a run in the sixth to eke out the win.

Natalie Haselby was charged with the loss after taking over the circle just one out into the contest. The sophomore southpaw surrendered 11 hits, four runs, only two of which were earned, and a walk while striking out two.

Game two came and went quietly for Ehler’s crew. Mason continued her hot bats by knocking in a run in the second on a shot through the left side to get HU on the board first. Unfortunately, that’s all the offense the hosts mustered in the nightcap.

Taylor evened things up in the fourth and erupted for five runs in the fifth to dash in front and then ride out their five-run lead to complete the sweep.

Mason’s single in the second was one of just three hits for the game for HU with Kasey Hickle and Jess Duvall the only other Foresters to tally a base poke.

Starting pitcher Kinzie Mollenkopf took the loss for Huntington. In 4.2 innings of work, she gave up six hits, six runs and two walks while striking out two.

Huntington is off until Tuesday when they road trip to Spring Arbor.