Skip to main content

HU softball team splits with Grace

Huntington University hitter Casey Lehman gets bat on ball during the Foresters' doubleheader against visiting Grace on Tuesday, April 24. Lehman had five hits on the day as HU split.
Huntington University hitter Casey Lehman gets bat on ball during the Foresters' doubleheader against visiting Grace on Tuesday, April 24. Lehman had five hits on the day as HU split. Photo by Steve Clark.

The Huntington University softball team split a twinbill with visiting Grace College, winning the first game, 7-2, before dropping the second, 9-5, on Tuesday, April 24.

In the opener, the Foresters wasted no time getting on the board, scoring four runs in the first inning and another in the second to craft a 5-0 advantage. The Lancers got on the board with a solo tally in the fourth before Coach Doug Gower’s squad countered with two scores in the sixth. Another solo tally by the visitors in the seventh brought the game’s scoring to a close.

Huntington, 21-19, 16-14 in Crossroads League play, was led by freshman Sophia Beachy, who drove in three runs. Sophomore Casey Lehman and freshmen Paige Eichelberger and Mallory West each registered two hits with a run batted in. Junior Marty Harris logged a double and an RBI while sophomore Joelle Beals notched a pair of base pokes and crossed home plate twice.

Lairen Miller pitched a complete game for the Foresters, limiting the Lancers to six hits and two runs, with only one earned. The sophomore, improving to 13-7, also struck out two and issued no walks.

In the second tilt, Grace got off to the fast start, building a 6-1 lead through first three innings. Huntington tightened things up with a three-run fourth, but the visitors outscored the hosts 3-1 the rest of the way to ice the win.

Sophomore Karley Blankenship paced the Foresters with two hits and as many RBI. Lehman banged out three hits while Beachy amassed two base pokes and an RBI and Eichelberger totaled two hits. Eichelberger and Beachy also crossed home plate two times apiece.

Mallory West took the loss in the circle for Huntington. The freshman, 1-8, surrendered four hits and six runs, five of which were earned, in two innings.

Huntington North High School product Hannah Middlebrooks earned the win for Grace, 13-31, 7-23 in league action. The rookie tossed a complete game, permitting 10 hits and the five runs, four of which were earned, while walking three and fanning one.