SOFTBALL

The HU softball team suffered a pair of losses, 14-6, 10-5, to #RV IU Southeast Friday afternoon at Koetter Sports Softball Complex. The loss drops Huntington to 2-3 while the Grenadiers improve to 15-2-1.

Game one had a twist that neither team could have anticipated. With the score knotted at 5-5 heading into the fifth, Kaela Robey cranked her first collegiate homer beyond the left field fence for a 6-5 advantage the Foresters were hoping would stick.

Unfortunately, IU Southeast had other intentions to not only challenge the lead but blow the game wide open to the point that the five-run rule came into play. The Grenadiers erupted for nine runs on five hits and two errors in the bottom of the fifth to make for the abrupt ending.

The Foresters scored compliments of an IUSE error in the first and then again in the fourth with the third frame proving HU’s most productive at bat of the day. The inning saw Hannah Shoupe get things started by drawing a walk before making her way around the bases on Paige Eichelberger’s two-bagger. Jada Crofoot kept things rolling by crushing an RBI-double to left-center after which back-to-back singles by Kiera Stacy and Robey loaded the bases to set the stage for Jenessa Hasty who worked a base on balls for the rather unique RBI.

Meghan Fretz took the loss for HU. In 4.1 innings, she gave up 11 hits, ten runs, two walks and three strikeouts.

Huntington opened up the scoring in the nightcap on Crofoot’s second RBI-double of the twin bill in the top of the first. It was short-lived as IUSE countered with a pair of runs in their half of the frame. Unfortunately, HU couldn’t keep up with their hosts who would go on to finish in double digits again to wrap up the sweep.

Gower’s crew touched home four more times in their fight to keep things close highlighted by Eichelberger’s RBI-single that capped off a three-run fifth inning. The junior outfielder finished with three of her team’s nine hits to go along with a run scored and RBI. Crofoot added a pair of hits and an RBI while Sophia Beachy pounded out two hits as well.

Tiffany Price spent the first 3.2 innings in the circle where she gave up seven hits, seven runs and four walks to be charged with the loss.

Huntington heads further south to Kentucky for a game with Montreat at 4:00 p.m. followed with a matchup with Georgetown.