SOFTBALL

The Huntington softball team opened Crossroads League play in emphatic fashion Tuesday afternoon, blanking Bethel in both games of a doubleheader at Gardner Field. The Foresters cruised to 10-0 and 8-0 mercy-rule victories, extending their winning streak over the Pilots to nine straight games.

Both contests ended early with the opener called after five innings and the nightcap after six.

The sweep also marked Huntington’s third consecutive shutout, pushing the Foresters to 10-4 overall and 2-0 in league play.

Game 1: Mollenkopf Deals, Foresters Roll 10-0
Junior Kinzie Mollenkopf was nearly untouchable in the opener, tossing a two-hit shutout while striking out five in five innings of work. The right-hander surrendered both hits and her lone walk in the second inning before completely locking in, retiring the side in order in each of the other four frames.

Mollenkopf needed just 75 pitches to secure the complete-game win.

While the pitching set the tone, the Forester offense delivered a steady stream of production. Huntington piled up 13 hits and four walks in the contest.

The scoring began in the third when Maddie Duvall crushed a two-run homer over the left field fence to give HU the early lead.

Duvall continued to fuel the offense in the fourth with an RBI single, igniting a huge inning for the visitors. The Foresters capitalized on a pair of wild pitches before Khloee Gregory roped a two-run double and Gaby Hypes followed with an RBI single to stretch the advantage. Huntington capped the scoring in the fifth when Maddie Goheen lined an RBI single, giving the Foresters the 10-run margin needed to end the game.

Duvall finished 3-for-4 with three RBI, while Gregory added two hits, including two doubles, and two RBI. Makinzie Kline and Carli Tharp each collected two hits as well as HU’s lineup produced nine different baserunners.

Game 2: Haselby Keeps the Shutouts Rolling in 8-0 Win
Senior southpaw Natalie Haselby picked up right where Mollenkopf left off in the circle.

Haselby scattered four hits and one walk across six innings, striking out two while needing only 72 pitches to record Huntington’s second shutout of the afternoon.

Once again, Maddie Duvall wasted no time getting the offense going. For the second straight game, the shortstop launched a two-run homer, this time in the first inning to put HU ahead early.

The Foresters added to the lead in the fourth when Kalyn Greene doubled to left-center to plate a run, setting up Kayelee Dudzik, who blasted a two-run homer for her first hit of the season to make it 5-0.

After a quiet fifth, Huntington delivered the knockout blow in the sixth. With the bases loaded and two outs, pinch hitter Akasha Burton drove a shot to the warning track in center that cleared the bases for three RBI, pushing the lead to eight and triggering the mercy rule.

Duvall again paced the offense, while Dudzik added two RBI with her long ball. Greene chipped in a double and RBI, and Burton’s pinch-hit blast provided the finishing touch.

Up Next
With the dominant sweep, the Foresters head home riding plenty of momentum. Huntington will return to action Friday at home against #6 Marian, with first pitch scheduled for 3:00 p.m.