BANGOR- The Husson Eagles baseball team swept a best of three North Atlantic Conference East Division Semifinal playoff series from the Thomas College Terriers on Friday afternoon at the Winkin Complex with 12-0 and 10-7 wins. The victories helped the Eagles win the East Divison Title and advance to the NAC Championship best of three series next week, with a chance to play in the NCAA Division III Baseball Tournament.
In game one it was all Husson from the start. David Leblanc singled in Akira Warren in the bottom of the first inning, and Kobe Rogerson scored on a wild pitch to make it 2-0 Eagles. Leblanc wasn’t done as he hammered an RBI double in the fifth, and then a two-run homer to left in the seventh that made it 5-0. Jackson Curtis had an RBI single in the same inning, and scored on a passed ball. Tyler Parke finished off a six run frame with a two-run homerun to left for a 9-0 advantage. Husson added three more in the eighth on another Leblanc RBI single, an RBI double from Chris Ewanik, and a sacrifice fly from Ethan Stoddard. Leblanc was 4-4 with two singles, a double, a homerun, two runs scored, and five RBI. Cam Graham (4-1) pitched the complete game on the mound allowing no runs on four hits with three walks and seven strikeouts. Ryan Scepansky (1-1) took the loss for Thomas College allowing three runs (two earned) on two hits with five walks and four strikeouts in 6.0 innings.
Husson needed to battle back in game two playing as the visitors on several occasions. Curtis had a sacrifice fly in the top of the second for an early 1-0 lead. Thomas took their first lead of the day on a two-run double from Lucas Harmon, and an RBI single by Kyle Gleason in the bottom half of the second at 3-1. Ewanik tied it for the Eagles with a two-run double down the right field line in the third, before Gleason hit a long towering two-run homerun to right for the Terriers in the fourth inning to make it 5-3 TC. An error by Ewanik in the fifth on a throw by the catcher Parke to third base added one more for a 6-3 Thomas advantage. But the Eagles responded once again with a three spot in the seventh. Rogerson had an RBI groundout, and Akira Warren scored unearned when Brandon Smith hit a fly ball to center that was misplayed and dropped for an error by Jacob Perry to cut it to 6-5. With two out Curtis popped one up near the mound that would be dropped by Terriers shortstop Bradley Smith allowing Leblanc to score to tie it 6-6, but Ewanik was thrown out on the same play when third baseman Devin Grindle scooped up the loose baseball to cut him down at the plate. Husson won it with four runs in the ninth inning. Smith had an RBI single, and then Curtis had the game winner with a two-run double down the left field line. Nick Swift drove in Curtis with a single for some insurance. Curtis ended with three hits and three RBI, while Ewanik had three as well and two RBI. Brandon Brunell (3-1) gave up six runs (five earned) on eight hits with one walk and five strikeouts in 4.1 innings as the starter, and Jake Gregoire (2-1) picked up the win in relief allowing just one run on two hits in 3.1 innings. Gleason had three hits and three RBI for the Terriers, while Grindle and Jackson Ladd added two hits a piece. Dylan Copeland started on the hill and went 8.0 innings plus one batter in the ninth in the no-decision allowing seven runs (four earned) with three walks and four strikeouts. Jacob Lacroix (1-1) was tagged with the loss as he was roughed up for three runs on three hits in 1/3 of an inning. Thomas College ends their season at 12-12.
Husson (20-6) advances to the NAC Championship best of three series that is tentatively set for next Friday and Saturday at the Winkin Complex in Bangor. The Eagles get the West Division winner either SUNY Cobleskill or SUNY Poly.
Game 1 BOX
THO 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0- 0 4 2
HUS 2 0 0 0 1 0 6 3 x- 12 11 0
Winning pitcher- Cam Graham (4-1)
Losing pitcher- Ryan Scepansky (1-1)
Left on base- Thomas 7, Husson 7
Game 2 BOX
HUSS 0 1 2 0 0 0 3 0 4- 10 12 4
THO 0 3 0 2 1 0 0 0 1- 7 10 4
Winning pitcher- Jake Gregoire (2-1)
Losing pitcher- Jacob Lacroix (1-1)
Left on base- Husson 8, Thomas 7
Photos from top to bottom of Thomas College at Husson University NAC East Division semifinal playoff games in Bangor on Friday, May 14- Thomas College pitcher Dylan Copeland, Husson pitcher Cam Graham, Thomas right fielder Kyle Gleason, Husson shortstop Kobe Rogerson, and Husson pitcher Brandon Brunell. The Eagles won both games 12-0 and 10-7 to advance to the NAC Championship series. Photos by Chris Lessner
