SOFTBALL

Just like the first time these two squads met earlier this spring, the HU softball team split with Spring Arbor (26-10, 17-9) Tuesday afternoon at Cougar Field. After being on the wrong side of a 3-2 decision, the Foresters bounced back to top their hosts 5-4 in the nightcap.

With this split, Huntington moves to 16-21 overall which includes an 11-15 CL record and remains at the No. 6 spot in the conference standings.

Rethlake’s crew jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in game one thanks to RBI-singles by Adelyn Harsh and Carli Tharp in the first and third frames respectively. SAU knotted things up in the bottom of third with one swing, a two-run double, and then took the lead on a homer in the sixth for what ended up being the game-winner.

Both teams finished with six hits apiece with three Foresters in Harsh, Tharp and Maddie Goheen each pounding out two to account for all of the guests’ base pokes.

Karlee Franklin stood atop the mound for HU to be charged with the loss after giving up six hits, three runs and two walks while striking out six.

Huntington made the most of their opportunities in the nightcap. Having managed just four hits, HU tapped into just one of them, Tharp’s RBI-double in the fourth, to drive in a run as the other four all came by way of Cougar blunders.

HU’s first three runs happened on the same play in the third. With runners on first and second, Tharp laid down a sacrifice bunt that the third baseman fielded cleanly but then air-lifted the throw into right field which cleared the bases, which included the speedy Tharp making her way home.

The fourth saw Jessica Duvall scamper home on an errant throw when the catcher tried to pick her off during Gena Moore’s at bat. Tharp rounded out the Foresters’ scoring with her aforementioned two-bagger later in the frame.

Spring Arbor was behind the eight ball all contest having scored twice in the third and adding two more in the fifth.

Natalie Haselby earned the complete-game win which included working 1-2-3 innings in the sixth and seventh to preserve the victory. She gave up eight hits and four runs, two of which were earned, while striking out one.

Huntington returns home tomorrow to host Bethel at 3:00 p.m.