SOFTBALL

The Forester softball team enjoyed an 8-3 win over IU Southeast (4-9) before coming up short, 3-2, in a game two nail-biter Saturday afternoon at Koetter Sports Softball Complex.

Karlee Franklin was sensational on the bump in the opener to earn the complete-game win. She gave up five hits, three runs, two of which were earned, and three walks while fanning two batters. It was the rookie’s first win in Forester green.

Ehler and crew wasted little time taking control of the contest. With two on and two outs in the top of the first, Adelyn Harsh drilled a shot to left to plate HU’s first run after which Courtney Mason unleashed for a two-run triple for an early 3-0 lead.

Huntington struck again in the second, this time by way of a Mackenzie Walker sacrifice fly. It was Cali Humphries who tagged up after drawing a walk, stealing second and advancing to third on a wild pitch.

The Grenadiers, who received votes in the preseason poll, got on the board in the fourth with a pair of runs but McKyndsea Burke got them right back in the top of the fifth with a knock into left that scored two. HU went on to outscore their hosts 2-1 the rest of the way compliments of Abigail Reed’s RBI-double in the sixth and Erin Dyke’s RBI-blooper into shallow right in the seventh.

As a team, Huntington collected 12 hits with Burke leading the way with two hits and two RBI. Jocelyn Winebrenner, Reed and Harsh also finished with a pair of base pokes.

Aside from IUSE logging back-to-back singles in their first at bat for a 1-0 lead, the first four frames of the nightcap were quiet. The Foresters’ bats finally came to life in the fifth when Reed blasted one well beyond the center field fence to kick off the frame. Jenessa Hasty then drew a base on balls to set the stage for an RBI-triple off the bat of Burke.

The Grenadiers answered with their own run-scoring triple in their half of the frame to draw things even and set up a dramatic ending – an IUSE walk-off homer in the bottom of the seventh for the win.

Maddie Turner tossed the final 2.2 innings to be charged with the loss having given up two hits, two runs and a walk.

HU (2-7) opens up conference play on March 18 by hosting Spring Arbor.