SOFTBALL

The Huntington softball team sought revenge Tuesday afternoon on their home turf, sweeping Mount Vernon in dramatic fashion, 8-7 and 4-3, to avenge a pair of losses from last month’s trip to Ohio.

Both wins came via walk-off heroics, starting with a wild finish in game one. The Foresters carried a slim 2-1 lead into the seventh, but the Cougars (15-12, 8-10) exploded for six runs on five hits and two HU errors, seemingly locking up a 7-3 advantage.

But Coach Tim Averill’s squad wasn’t finished.

Carli Tharp ignited the comeback with a solo homer to left, followed by three consecutive walks to load the bases. Gena Moore stepped up with a clutch single to left center, plating two. Maddie Goheen’s sacrifice fly was mishandled in center, allowing another run to score and Moore to advance to third.

Then came the knockout blow – Maddie Duvall lofted a sac fly to the outfield. After Moore tagged up for the tying run, the throw home missed its mark which gave pinch runner Liliana Lamberson enough time to dive head-first into home for the game-winning run.

Earlier in the contest, Kasey Hickle and Jo Walker each tallied RBI singles in the third and sixth innings respectively to account for HU’s first two runs.|

Maddie Turner picked up the win, needing just eight pitches to close out the top of the seventh. Kinzie Mollenkopf got the start and struck out 15 in 6.1 innings, allowing ten hits, six runs, only three earned, and one walk.

Moore led the offense with two of HU’s five hits, driving in two and scoring once.

The second game brought more late-inning excitement. Trailing 3-2, the Foresters tied things up in the sixth on another RBI-single from Hickle. The Cougars threatened in the top of the seventh with a lead-off single, but Natalie Haselby shut the door with a groundout and back-to-back strikeouts.

HU seized the moment in the bottom half. Moore and Goheen each singled, setting the table for Walker, whose bloop single to right allowed pinch runner Savannah Sullivan to score from third and seal the win.

Walker finished with two RBI singles, while Moore went 3-for-4 with an RBI in the first inning. The Foresters outhit MVNU 11-6.

Haselby earned the win with two scoreless innings of relief, allowing just one hit while striking out two.

The Foresters (23-10-1, 12-7-1) now prepare for a busy week ahead. They’ll hit the road to face Saint Francis and Bethel this weekend, return home to host Marian on Monday, then travel to Taylor on Tuesday.