SOFTBALL

The Forester softball team picked up their first Crossroads League win in walk-off style Tuesday afternoon against Taylor by way of a 5-4 decision before dropping a 9-7 heartbreaker to the Trojans in the nightcap.

It was Maddie Goheen’s clutch walk-off double in the bottom of the seventh that capped off a frenzied ending in the opener. The Foresters, holding onto a 4-1 advantage headed into the seventh, watched their lead dwindle to nothing in the top of the frame thanks to some timely Trojan hitting along with a little help from a defensive blunder. By the time it was their turn at the plate, HU was staring at a 4-4 tie, but it didn’t stay that way long.

After Gene Moore worked a free pass, her pinch runner Gabrielle Hypes scampered to second on a pass ball and then easily made her way home on Goheen’s big blast to center field.

Huntington scored in each of the first three innings. Maddie Duvall sent one to the warning track for an RBI-double in the first to match Taylor’s run in the top of the inning. HU got creative in plating their second run, a double steal in the second with Maddie Duvall the one touching home plate, while Goheen and Khloee Gregory each drove in a run with a two-bagger and single respectively in the third.

Goheen finished with two hits and two RBI. As a team, Huntington finished with seven hits to the Trojans’ eight.

Natalie Haselby’s time in the circle was short but effective. The junior southpaw faced the last two Trojan batters, getting the first to pop up to short and then coaxing the next to ground out to the same spot, to earn the win.

The nightcap was plagued with defensive mishaps that ultimately got the best of the hosts who committed five errors to the tune of four unearned runs while TU committed three blunders that cost them two unearned runs.

Just like the opener, game two came down to the last frame but this time it was the guests who found a way to win. Tied up at 6-6 heading into the seventh, Taylor (14-6, 5-3) set the stage by landing their first two batters on base. After a fielder’s choice, a single, error and ground out each proved a run-scoring at-bat for the Trojans to give them a three-run lead of 9-6 with Huntington getting one more opportunity at the plate.

With two outs and a runner on second, HU remained hopeful after pinch hitter Liliana Lamberson blistered a shot up the middle for an RBI-single. A TU error put runners on the corners, but a controversial call favored Taylor as they recorded the last out with a 6-3 groundout to stifle Huntington’s stab at a come-from-behind finish.

Both squads finished with eight hits with three Forester base pokes resulting in runs. In addition to Lamberson’s RBI-single in the seventh, Maddie Duvall also worked an RBI-single, hers in the second, while Kayelee Dudzik sent one deep, a two-run shot over the left field fence, in the fourth.

Bethany Haselby was charged with the loss have tossed two innings of relief. She gave up three hits, three runs, two of which were earned, and a walk while striking out two.

With this split, HU moves to 12-8 on the year, 1-5 in CL action. Next up for Coach Averill and crew is a trip to Spring Arbor on Friday.