The Husson University baseball team lost their opening game Saturday in the North Atlantic Conference tournament in 12 innings to Castleton 7-5 but bounced back to defeat Thomas College to advance to Sundays title game at Castleton, Vermont.
In the opener Husson had a 5-2 lead before the Spartans rallied and eventually won the game in extra innings. Three different Castleton players had two runs batted in and Deagan Poland had five hits. Mike Wong, Christian Corneil and Ryan Rebar all had a pair of hits for the Eagles.
Husson had a three run lead after six innings. Castleton got two in the seventh and a run in the eighth to tie it. In the 12th Dan Errico led off the inning with a solo homer to help the Spartans to the lead and the win. Ben Holmes (1-2) took the loss in relief for Husson.
In the second game of the day Husson broke open a close game with four runs in the seventh inning on a grand slam by JT Whitten to end the season for Thomas College by a final score of 6-1.
Whitten had two hits and four runs batted in to lead Husson. Rebar also had three hits. Nik Beeson had three hits and an RBI for Thomas while Anree Benitez and Derek Kane also had a pair of hits. The Terriers end their season with a record of 20-20.
Dan Whitney (5-2) went the distance for Husson allowing one run, nine hits, no walks and two strikeouts in the nine innings of work.
Husson (23-20) will now face a rematch with Castleton (31-10) in the NAC championship round Sunday at 10 a.m. Husson must defeat the Spartans twice in order to capture the title.
