HU sweeps USF for first two league wins

HUNTINGTON, Ind. – The HU softball team (7-10, 2-4) had a big day at the plate to sweep Saint Francis, 9-4, 11-8, Tuesday afternoon for their first two league wins. The wins also mark Huntington's first victories on their home turf.

The Foresters raced out to an 8-0 lead before cruising to the 9-4 win in the opener. Khloee Gregory was the game's heavy hitter. The freshman shortstop cranked two out of the park, a two-run blast in the second and a solo shot in the sixth.

Another freshman in Maddie Duvall also had several big at-bats. After driving in the game's first run with a single up the middle in the first, she swung for an RBI-double in the fourth on her way to posting three hits and two RBI for the game.

In addition to Gregory's big blast in the second, Courtney Mason smoked a double with bases loaded to drive in her three teammates and then came around to score on Breanna Hines' two-bagger. It made for a six-run frame that essentially put the game out of reach early on.

Karlee Franklin tossed the first 5.2 innings to earn the win. She gave up six hits, four runs and a walk while striking out one.

Rethlake's crew got off to a rough start in the nightcap having given up three runs in the first. HU got one back on an RBI-fielder's choice by Maddie Goheen but then watched the Cougars score three more in their next at-bat to quickly find themselves down 6-1 heading into the bottom of the second.

Huntington's response in their half of the frame gave the home crowd plenty to cheer about. In addition pounding out three hits, which included a two-run smack up the middle by Duvall, the Foresters leaned into an error, passed ball, a fielder's choice the guests couldn't convert and an RBI-ground out to touch home five times to get right back in it.

Gena Moore highlighted a three-run third with a single through the left side that drove in a pair of runs to officially turn the tables. After being down by five early on, by the end of the third the hosts were up 9-6 and well on their way to the win.

The Cougars (5-7, 1-3) put up two runs over the next two frames to draw within one at 9-8 but HU quieted a rowdy USF dugout by adding two insurance runs in the fifth, one on a passed ball and the other on a sac bunt by Hines.

Moore finished with two hits and three RBI while Hines and Duvall each posted a pair of hits and two RBI. As a team, Huntington logged 11 hits which matched their number of base pokes in the opener.

Adelyn Harsh pitched a dandy as the third Forester to spend time in the circle. She threw the last five frames, striking out three and giving up six hits and two runs along the way to pick up the win.

Next up for Huntington is a twin bill at Taylor on Friday.

The Huntington University Foresters compete in 17 intercollegiate sports for men and women. In the past decade, Huntington has produced 125 NAIA All-America honors and 449 All-America Scholar Athlete honors. Huntington University is a comprehensive Christian college of the liberal arts offering graduate and undergraduate programs in more than 70 academic concentrations. U.S. News & World Reportranks Huntington among the best colleges in the Midwest.