Sixth-Inning Avalanche Powers HU to 9-3 Win Over IWU

SPRING ARBOR, Mich. - Second-seeded Huntington turned a tight contest into a runaway Friday evening, erupting for seven runs in the sixth to cruise past fourth-seeded Indiana Wesleyan on day two of the Crossroads League Tournament at Spring Arbor's Hank Burbridge Field.

Trailing 2-1, the Foresters erupted with eight straight hits in a relentless stretch that left the Wildcats with no answers. Cam Clarkson got things rolling with an RBI single before Zach Pelletier ripped a run-scoring double to give HU its first lead. Tanner Reinartz followed with a two-RBI double, RJ Anglin added an RBI knock, and Kade Flores capped the surge with a two-run single as Huntington batted around and forced IWU to cycle through three pitchers in the frame.

The Foresters finished with 13 hits on the night, with Reinartz leading the charge in a monster performance. The right fielder went 3-for-4 with two doubles, three RBI and two runs scored. Pelletier added a pair of hits, including a double and an RBI, while Owen Willard and Braden Kauffman each collected two hits. Anglin and Flores drove in two runs apiece as HU's lineup produced up and down the order.

Huntington scratched across its first run in the second when Anglin brought home Reinartz with a groundout to even things at 1-1. After IWU briefly reclaimed the lead on one of Nick Wiley's two solo homers, the Foresters' explosive sixth put the game out of reach. Reinartz added insurance in the seventh with his second RBI double of the game.

Max Engle delivered a steady outing on the mound to earn the win, improving to 9-1 on the season. The right-hander went six innings, allowing two runs on six hits while striking out four. Aidan Micinski handled the final three innings to secure the save, giving up just one run and striking out three. Indiana Wesleyan's only offense came via Wiley's two long balls and an RBI double from Matthew Drozlek.

With the win, Huntington improves to 39-10 and remains unbeaten in tournament play. The Foresters now square off with top-seeded Taylor on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. in a matchup featuring the bracket's last two undefeated teams, with a spot in the championship on the line.

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.