MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The Foresters Baseball team brought their storied season to a close Wednesday night in a 4 – 8 decision against Faulkner University at Harrsion Field in the Montgomery Bracket of the NAIA National Championship Opening Round. This was HU’s second time facing top-seeded Faulkner here in Montgomery. The Eagles knocked the Foresters out of the winner’s bracket on Tuesday with a 3-0 shutout win.
A gritty and resilient Huntington team was bound and determined to avoid being shut-out a second time by Faulkner. The Eagles struck first with four runs in the third inning. A costly error plated Faulkner’s first run and was followed by a three-run home run to cap their four-run inning.
Andy Roser provided a much-needed offensive spark in the top of the fourth with a solo shot over the left field wall to put HU on the board.
Faulkner added three more in the fifth with a solo home run and back-to-back RBI singles.
HU responded again in the sixth inning. In back-to-back at-bats, Shea Beauchamp and Dylan Henricks were hit by pitches which gave HU two runners on with no outs. An Andy Roser ground out to second advanced both Beauchamp and Henricks. Will Coursen-Carr drew a walk to load the bases and Tyler Zimske was also hit by a pitch which resulted in Beauchamp scoring HU’s second run of the game.
Coach McCarthy’s crew was able to manufacture one more run in their half of the seventh, this time on another RBI single to right-center.
The Foresters weren’t done yet. Henricks led off the eighth with a solo home run. The solo shot was Henricks’ second of the day, having gone yard earlier against TMU. In the top of the ninth inning, Tyler Zimske also hit his second home run of the day when he unloaded on a ball that cleared the left field score board to bring the game back within four, but that’s as close as they would get.
Conner West took the loss for the HU. He pitched four innings, allowing five hits and six earned runs while also striking out two batters. Tarrin Beachy, Mason Coy, and Caleb Landrum also contributed on the mound. The bullpen trio pitched scattered four hits and two earned runs while striking out seven and only walking two in their four innings of relief.
While reflecting on this tremendous season and the careers of his 11 seniors, here’s what Coach Frame had to say about his team, “This is the best team I have ever had and a tremendous group of kids. They fought for three days in 90-degree heat, but just ran into a Faulkner team that was better. It is tough for this season to come to an end.”
The Foresters wrap up the year with an overall record of 35 – 13.
Best wishes to seniors Will Coursen-Carr, Tanner Wyse, Dalton Combs, TJ Lindstrand, Dylan Henricks, Michael Crowley, Shea Beauchamp, Andy Roser, Mason Coy, Drew McLochlin, and Tyson Dietrich.