HUNTINGTON, Ind. – The Huntington softball team got back on track Saturday afternoon at Forester Field, sweeping Grace College in dramatic fashion with two walk-off victories. The Foresters edged the Lancers 3-2 in eight innings in game one before rolling to an 8-0 run-rule win in six innings in the nightcap.
With the sweep, Coach Tim Averill's squad improves to 12-6 overall and 4-2 in Crossroads League play.
Game 1 – Huntington 3, Grace 2 (8 innings)
The opener was a pitcher's duel that required extra innings before the Foresters finally prevailed.
Huntington had to battle back twice before Gaby Hypes delivered the walk-off, reaching on a bases-loaded fielder's choice grounder that allowed Maddie Duvall to cross the plate for the game-winner.
The rally was set up by outstanding plate discipline as Duvall, Khloee Gregory and Kailee Bishop worked three straight walks to load the bases in the eighth.
In the circle, Kinzie Mollenkopf went the distance, tossing a complete-game eight-inning gem. The right-hander allowed just five hits and two runs while striking out six and walking three over 123 pitches.
Grace struck first in the opening inning before Huntington evened things up in the fifth thanks to heads-up baserunning from Carli Tharp. After singling, Tharp advanced to third on a bunt and then stole home to tie the contest at 1-1.
The Lancers regained the lead in the sixth with an RBI double, but the Foresters answered again in the seventh. Pinch hitter Akasha Burton reached base on a single and eventually scored on Makinzie Kline's sacrifice fly to force extra innings.
Huntington finished with seven hits, led by Kline and Maddie Goheen, who each recorded two hits. Kline also drove in a run while Tharp added a hit and a stolen base.
Game 2 – Huntington 8, Grace 0 (6 innings)
The Foresters wasted little time taking control in the nightcap, scoring early and often to secure the run-rule victory.
The decisive inning came in the second when Huntington erupted for four runs. Kalyn Greene doubled down the left-field line to drive in two runs before Jess Duvall followed with a two-run single to make it a 4-0 ballgame.
Huntington added two more in the third thanks to an error and Kline's RBI single, extending the lead to 6-0.
The Foresters put the finishing touches on the win in the sixth when Bishop ripped a two-run single to left, bringing home the final runs of the afternoon.
While the offense piled up 11 hits, Natalie Haselby dominated in the circle, tossing a complete-game three-hit shutout. The senior southpaw struck out three, walked none and needed just 63 pitches to finish the job.
Kline had a monster game at the plate, going 4-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored. Greene finished with two RBI, Jess Duvall added two RBI and Bishop drove in two more to help power the Foresters' offense.
Huntington continues its six-game homestand Thursday, hosting Mount Vernon Nazarene at 3:00 p.m. at Forester Field.
The Huntington University Foresters compete in 18 intercollegiate sports for men and women. In the past decade, Huntington has produced 181 NAIA All-America honors and 631 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. Huntington has a top quartile ranking in the 2026 U.S. News Best Regional Universities Midwest Rankings.
