BASEBALL

The #24 Huntington University baseball team proved Monday afternoon at Forest Glen that no deficit is too large for its explosive offense. The Foresters erased late deficits in both games of a doubleheader against #3 Taylor, claiming a dramatic 7-6 walk-off win in the opener before storming back for a 10-9 victory in the nightcap.

The sweep evened the four-game series at 2-2 and improved HU to 16-3 overall and 6-2 in Crossroads League play.

Game One – Walk-Off Drama Lifts HU, 7-6
The opener featured a little bit of everything as the lead swung back and forth throughout the afternoon with three ties before the Foresters delivered late-game heroics.

Huntington struck first in the opening frame when Cam Clarkson singled home Deklan Thompson, before Jace Fowler swiped home moments later for a quick 2-0 advantage. Taylor chipped away and eventually tied the contest before Huntington reclaimed the lead behind a solo homer from Keifer Wilson in the third, his first long ball of the day.

The Trojans again battled back and eventually grabbed a 6-5 lead in the ninth, loading the bases with no outs and threatening to break the game open.

Instead, the Foresters flipped the momentum in an instant.

A fielder’s choice cut down a runner at the plate before closer Dylan Eggl induced a clutch double play to end the threat with just one run across. It marked Huntington’s fourth double play of the game, a defensive highlight that kept the Foresters within striking distance.

That proved to be all the opening HU needed. Wilson wasted little time knotting things up when he launched a towering solo homer to right field to tie the game at 6-6, his second blast of the contest.

Moments later, Zach Pelletier singled and moved into scoring position on a wild pitch, setting the stage for Owen Willard, who ripped a walk-off single down the left field line to send the Forester dugout into a frenzy.

At the plate, Huntington produced nine hits and drew six walks while turning four double plays defensively. Wilson paced the offense with two homers and two RBI, while Willard delivered the game-winning knock and reached base three times. Thompson and Clarkson each added an RBI.

On the mound, Grant Simmons struck out six over five innings while allowing just two runs. Aidan Micinski handled the middle innings before Eggl earned the win after escaping the ninth-inning jam.

Game 2: Wilson, Willard Ignite Massive Comeback in 10-9 Win
If the opener was dramatic, the nightcap somehow delivered even more fireworks.

Huntington jumped out early thanks to Wilson’s two-run homer in the first, but Taylor answered with seven unanswered runs to seize a 7-2 lead.

The Foresters finally broke through in the fifth when Willard lined a two-run single to right, cutting the deficit to 7-4.

After the Trojans added another run in the sixth to make it 8-4, Huntington unleashed one of the most explosive innings of the season.

With Deklan Thompson and Jace Fowler drawing walks, Wilson stepped in and delivered once again. The Forester slugger crushed a three-run homer over the left-field fence, instantly pulling HU within one at 8-7.

But Huntington wasn’t finished. A walk by Cam Clarkson and a single from Zach Pelletier put two runners on for Willard, who then delivered the knockout punch. The second baseman transfer from Purdue Fort Wayne launched a tall three-run homer to right field, completing the stunning rally and giving the Foresters a 10-8 lead.

The two swings flipped the game in an instant and highlighted the dynamic duo at the heart of Huntington’s offense. Wilson finished the nightcap 3-for-4 with two home runs and five RBI, while Willard matched him with a 3-for-4 performance of his own, also driving in five runs including the decisive three-run blast.

Together, the pair accounted for all 10 Huntington RBI in the victory. HU totaled 10 hits and eight walks in the contest, with Fowler scoring three runs while Clarkson reached base three times.

On the mound, Huntington pieced together the win with a bullpen effort. Brady Gallo earned the victory with a hitless, scoreless sixth inning that included two strikeouts, while Eggl returned to the mound in the seventh to close things out. After surrendering a leadoff homer, the Forester closer regrouped to retire the next three hitters on a groundout, flyout and line drive to secure the save.

Up Next
With the split against the Trojans complete, the Foresters now turn their attention to a tough road test as they travel to Marian next weekend to face a Knight squad that currently sits 8-0 in Crossroads League play.