SOFTBALL

The Forester softball team delivered a statement win Friday afternoon, knocking off #RV Indiana Wesleyan Wildcats, 8-5, at Forester Field in a makeup game originally scheduled for March 31.

After a quiet 0-0 start, the action picked up in the third when Kinzie Mollenkopf worked around trouble with a pair of clutch outs to strand a runner and keep things scoreless. The Wildcats eventually broke through in chaotic fashion in the fourth, using a walk and a flurry of stolen bases, including a steal of home, to take a 1-0 lead.

That spark didn’t last long.

Huntington erupted in the bottom half of the inning, sending 11 batters to the plate, sifting through three IWU pitchers and hanging a six-spot in a game-changing frame. Pinch hitter Akasha Burton jumpstarted the rally with an RBI single before Makinzie Kline blew it open with a bases-clearing triple to the center field fence. Kasey Hickle followed with an RBI knock, while Carli Tharp and Maddie Duvall each drove in runs to cap the surge and give HU a 6-1 advantage.

The Foresters finished with eight runs on 11 hits and six walks, showcasing patience and timely hitting throughout the lineup. Jess Duvall led the way with a perfect 2-for-2 effort and two runs scored, while Tharp paced the offense with three RBI on a pair of hits. Kline added two RBI with her triple, and Hickle chipped in two hits and a run driven in. Maddie Goheen was also active at the plate, matching Duvall’s 2-for-2 showing while drawing a pair of walks.

Indiana Wesleyan kept things interesting late, plating four runs across the fifth and seventh innings to cut into the deficit, but Huntington never relinquished control. Tharp provided key insurance in the sixth, ripping a two-run double to extend the lead to 8-4.

In the circle, Mollenkopf picked up the win, tossing the final 4.2 innings with two strikeouts. Natalie Haselby got the start back on March 31 and combined with Mollenkopf to hold the Wildcats to seven hits.

With the win, Huntington improves to 21-15 overall and 13-11 in league play, including four victories over ranked opponents this season. The Foresters hit the road Saturday to face Mount Vernon Nazarene Cougars at 1:00 p.m.