BASEBALL

Offense came easily for the HU baseball team Tuesday afternoon at Forest Glen. Unfortunately, it also came easily to Spring Arbor in the opener as they outslugged their hosts 16-14 before Huntington trounced on their guests 15-2 in the nightcap for the split.

Game one was a hitter’s delight with each team pounding out 21 hits. The slugfest saw runs scored in every frame with the top of the ninth proving the winning moment. SAU (14-11-1, 8-8) strung together three straight hits with the final two knocking in a run each time to turn a 14-14 deadlock into a two-run advantage for the visitors that stood the test of time as HU left one runner stranded in their last at-bat.

Eleven different Foresters posted a base poke with Satchell Wilson going 4-for-5 at the plate and logging four RBI to lead Frame’s crew. Ian McCutcheon added three hits and two RBI while Jarett Gray and Sam Kimmorley collected two hits apiece in addition to driving in two runs each.

The nine-inning affair was up for grabs from start to finish as the contest featured six lead changes and two ties before the Cougars had the last say.

Each team put five pitchers on the bump with Graham Kollen taking the loss for Huntington having thrown the final 1.2 frames during which he gave up six hits and two runs while striking out two.

Huntington continued their tear at the plate in the nightcap with Max Moser coming up big in three out of his four at-bats. He kicked off his hot streak with a two-run double in the second, drove in two more runs with a single to left center in the third and then capped things off with a dinger in the fifth.

Moser was one of four Foresters to knock one out of the park. Daniel Lichty sent one yard in the bottom of the first, McCutcheon launched one over the left field fence in the third and Gray cleared the right field fence in the fifth.

In addition to Moser’s three base smacks, other Foresters to log multiple hits included Lichty (2 hits, 3 RBI), McCutcheon (2 hits, 2 RBI), Wilson (2 hits) and Gray (2 hits, 1 RBI).

While HU enjoyed a hit fest, Joey Butz tossed a dandy to make sure the Cougars did not. He went the distance, striking out 13 along the way, to give up just two hits, two runs and two walks for the complete-game win.

With this split, Huntington moves to 12-12 overall, 10-6 in league play. HU returns to Forest Glen on Friday to host Marian at 3:00 p.m.