BASEBALL

One day after making a statement, Huntington ran out of answers. The second-seeded Foresters saw their Crossroads League Tournament run come to a close Saturday at Spring Arbor’s Hank Burbridge Field, falling 12-2 to top-seeded Taylor before dropping a 5-1 decision to fourth-seeded Indiana Wesleyan in an elimination game.

Game 1: Taylor 12, Huntington 2 (7 innings)
Huntington couldn’t recover from an early avalanche in its first matchup of the day as Taylor erupted for 12 runs over the first six innings to invoke the run rule.

The Foresters were held in check offensively until the seventh, managing just four hits on the day while striking out seven times. Cam Clarkson provided the highlight with a solo shot to right field, while RJ Anglin added an RBI single later in the inning to account for HU’s only runs.

Clarkson and Anglin each finished with a hit and an RBI, while Jace Fowler and Braden Kauffman recorded the team’s other knocks.

On the mound, Grant Simmons was tagged with the loss after surrendering seven runs on six hits and three walks in two innings of work. Kai Newman followed with four innings in relief, allowing five runs (just one earned) while striking out two.

Taylor did its damage with 12 hits and seven walks, while taking advantage of Huntington’s offensive struggles. Brayden Manning (3 RBI) and Ben Kennedy (3 RBI) paced the Trojans, who capitalized early and never looked back.

Game 2: Indiana Wesleyan 5, Huntington 1
Huntington’s season hung in the balance just hours later, but Indiana Wesleyan struck early and didn’t let up.

The Wildcats plated all five of their runs in the first three innings, highlighted by a three-run homer from Braxton Brosmer in the opening frame. IWU finished with seven hits and drew four walks, building a cushion the Foresters couldn’t overcome.

HU managed six hits but struggled to string anything together. Cam Clarkson and Tanner Reinartz each recorded two-hit efforts to lead the offense, while pinch hitter Owen Imel delivered the Foresters’ lone run with an RBI single to center in the fifth.

Keegan Shovlain took the loss after giving up five runs on seven hits and three walks in 2.2 innings. Huntington’s bullpen settled things down the rest of the way, with Gabe Hamrick, Carter Wilkinson and Dylan Eggl combining for 6.1 scoreless innings while allowing just one hit and striking out five.

Despite the disappointing finish, Huntington wraps up the tournament with a 39-12 record, highlighted by a program-record 39 wins – set just a day earlier in a 9-3 victory over Indiana Wesleyan. Now, the Foresters await their postseason fate with the NAIA National Tournament selection show set for May 6, where HU hopes to secure an at-large bid and extend its season.