HUNTINGTON, Ind. – The Spring Arbor University softball team earned a pair of hard-fought victories on Saturday, sweeping a doubleheader from Huntington University with 6-4 and 6-5 wins.
The Cougars jumped out early in the opener, getting RBI hits from
Brooke Meeker and
Grace Luby in the first inning to take the lead. Spring Arbor added single runs in the third and fourth innings before Luby delivered a two-RBI double in the fifth to extend the advantage to 6-0.
Emilee Underwood was dominant in the circle early, holding Huntington scoreless through five innings. The Foresters capitalized on a Cougar error in the sixth to score three runs and make things interesting late.
Huntington threatened again in the seventh, loading the bases with two outs, but Underwood came through in the clutch with a strikeout to end the game and secure the win.
Meeker led the offense, going 3-for-4, just a home run shy of the cycle, while scoring twice and driving in a run. Luby added two hits and three RBIs. Underwood earned the win, allowing three runs – just one earned – over six innings while striking out six.
In game two, Huntington struck first with a run in the opening inning, but
Nicole Barbeau answered with a solo home run in the second to even the score. The Cougars took the lead in the third on an RBI double from
Grace Lentz and carried a 2-1 advantage into the sixth.
The Foresters rallied with two runs in the bottom of the sixth to move in front, 3-2, but Spring Arbor responded in a big way in the seventh.
Taylor Clark delivered the key blow with a bases-clearing, three-RBI double to put SAU back on top.
Payton Grange followed with an RBI double to extend the lead.
Huntington mounted one final push in the bottom of the seventh, scoring twice, but the Cougars held on to complete the sweep.
Summer Ambler paced the offense in game two, going 3-for-4 with a run scored. Clark, Grange and Lentz each added two hits.
Ava Poulson earned the win in relief, tossing two innings.
Spring Arbor returns home on Tuesday, March 24 to host Grace College with first pitch set for 3 p.m.
