SOFTBALL

For the third time this season, the HU softball team logged double-digit runs on their home turf to pick up a 10-5 win over Goshen on Tuesday afternoon before taking one on the chin, 10-1, in the nightcap to split with the Maple Leafs (14-21, 8-11).

The Foresters pounded out a season-tying 15 hits in game one to plate a run in every inning. Enjoying a 4-1 advantage through the first four frames, HU had a bit of the hiccup in the top of the fifth by giving up three unearned runs to make for a 4-4 stalemate.

Gower’s gritty crew responded immediately in their side. After three consecutive base pokes, including Joelle Beals’ lead-off double, Denaia Rice cleared the bases with a hard hit triple to left-center and then made her way home on Paige Eichelberger’s single up the middle. Just like that, the Foresters were back on top 8-4.

After Goshen got one back in the sixth, Huntington touched home twice thanks to nifty base-running as pinch runner Amber Klopfenstein scored on a passed ball and then Beals stole home while teammate Sophia Beachy gave herself up going to second on the double steal.

Eichelberger finished 4-for-4 at the plate with two RBI to pace Huntington offensively. Marty Harris was also perfect at the plate by going 3-for-3. Rice registered a pair of hits to go along with three RBI. Kiera Stacy and Beachy each added two hits while Kennedy Krull posted an RBI-single.

MacKyndsea Burke picked up her second complete-game win in as any days. The rookie thrower surrendered 13 hits, five runs, only one of which was earned, and a walk while striking out one.

The nightcap was one to forget for the hosts as they found themselves down 10-0 after three with no answer in site to suffer the five-inning loss by way of the mercy rule. HU’s only run came in the fifth on Rozlynn Everhart’s RBI-single.

Jada Crofoot was the only other Forester to log a hit while their visitors racked up 12. Meghan Fretz took the loss for Huntington. In 2.2 innings in the circle, she gave up ten hits and nine runs, six of which were earned, while striking out one.

With this split, the Foresters move to 11-19 overall, 7-13 in league play. They are back at it on Friday with another home doubleheader against Bethel starting at 3:00 p.m.