The Husson Eagles, after dropping their opening game of the NCAA Division III Regional Baseball Tournament in Ambler, Pennsylvania to the hosts from Arcadia University on Friday, scored their first regional tournament win since 2009 over Elizabethtown College on Saturday to keep their season alive but would be eliminated in the semifinals when they fell to #16 Oswego State at Skip Wilson Field.
In the first elimination game Saturday, Husson used an eight run third inning and built a 13-2 lead and held on for a 13-12 victory over the Blue Jays of Elizabethtown College. The Eagles fell behind early 2-0, but recorded eight hits including two doubles and a triple to take an 8-2 lead in the big eight run third. They added three runs in the fourth and single runs in the fifth and sixth for an 11 run lead. Elizabethtown (22-22) came storming back with two in the sixth, five in seventh, and then had scored three runs in their last at bat in the ninth and had the tying runs on base and the winning run at the plate with two outs. Cam Graham recorded the final out when he got Garrett Schwartzbeck to line out to second baseman Akira Warren, who made a diving play up the middle to record the final out and extend the Eagles season. Ethan Stoddard had three hits for Husson, while Austin Snow, Jackson Curtis, Ty Knowlton, and Tyler Parke had two hits each. Matt Wallingford (1-0) picked up his first win allowing one runs on two hits in 4.0 innings, with Graham picking up his first save.
In the second elimination game that started on Saturday but was suspended in the top of the eighth inning due to darkness and continued on Sunday morning, Husson saw their season come to an end falling 12-10 to the Oswego State Lakers in the semifinal round. It was a back and forth game, as Oswego (31-11) took an early 3-0 lead in the first inning before the Eagles scored four times in the third to take a 4-3 advantage. Josh Scott had an RBI double, Jackson Curtis a two-run double, and Kobe Rogerson an RBI sacrifice flyout. After the Lakers scored four of their own in the top of the fourth, Husson tied it back up 7-7 in the last of that inning thanks to RBI singles by Parke, Snow, and Scott. Scott regained the lead with an RBI single in the sixth, but a two-run homerun by CJ McCarthy put Oswego State up for good 9-8 in the seventh. The Lakers added on with a run in the eighth and two in the ninth. The Eagles had a chance in their last at bat, getting a run on a two out balk and an RBI single from Stoddard. Tanner Evans walked to put two runners on, but Austin Barron would flyout to end the 2022 season for Husson. Scott had three hits and three RBI, and Snow, Stoddard, and Warren had two hits a piece. Graham started the game on the hill but only lasted 1/3 of an inning. Ryne Rametta (0-3) took the loss in relief. The Eagles, the now back to back North Atlantic Conference Champions, end their campaign at 25-17 that included a 15 game win streak coming into the tournament.
Oswego State ended up winning the tournament by taking two games from #5 Arcadia, sending the Lakers to the Super Regionals next weekend.
