BANGOR- The Husson University baseball team opened up a four game North Atlantic Conference series with a seven inning doubleheader against Thomas College at the Winkin Complex on Saturday afternoon. The Terriers (6-1) came in with a 1/2 game lead over the Eagles (5-1) for first place in the NAC East Division standings. The Husson softball team also played a conference doubleheader at Boucher Field (due to poor field conditions at O’Keefe Field) and tried to extend their 11 game win streak.
Baseball Game 1- Thomas built a 5-1 lead through five innings, and held on to beat Husson 5-3. The Terriers scored the first three runs of the game, and after Austin Snow got the Eagles on the board with an RBI single in the second, they would extend their lead on RBI doubles by Tony Meza and DJ Cagnina in the fourth and fifth innings respectively. Matt Holmes tripled home a run in the last of the sixth for the hosts, and with two outs in the seventh they got two runners on base and an RBI single from Cam Rendell. Holmes though representing the go ahead run would fly out to centerfield to end it. Akira Warren and Rendell had two hits each, and Connor Abood (2-2) was tagged with the pitching loss for Husson allowing five runs on eight hits with three walks and three strikeouts in 5.0 innings. Andrew Pruell (5-0) picked up the win for Thomas giving up three runs on seven hits with four walks and seven strikeouts on 6.2 innings. Daniel May picked up his first save by retiring one batter. Meza had two hits.
Game 2- Jackson Curtis broke a 1-1 tie with a line drive game winning two-run homerun to right field in the third inning, as Husson garnered the split with a 4-2 win. Curtis later would add an RBI double in the fifth. Rendell (1-0) picked up the victory on the hill with a strong start giving up two runs on five hits with one walk and five strikeouts in 6.2 innings. Ryan Robb earned a one out save, his second of the season. Curtis led the way with two hits and three RBI. Elijah Morton and Jason Bartlett had two hits each for Thomas College. Zach Nickerson (0-2) gave up three runs on two hits with three walks and one strikeout in 4.0 innings in suffering the defeat on the mound.
Husson baseball is now 9-9, 6-2 in the NAC. Thomas remains 1/2 game ahead of the Eagles in the East Division as their record is 11-12 and 7-2 in the conference. The two teams square off again for a doubleheader in Waterville on Sunday beginning at 1 p.m.
Softball Game 1- Husson scored 11 runs in the first inning, and cruised to a 15-0 mercy ruled five inning victory over Lesley University. Danielle Masterson and Jazmin Johnson combined for a no-hitter in the circle. Katie Raymond had three hits and three RBI, while Tori Excel also drove in three runs that included a two-run homerun. Morgan Tainter had two RBI. Masterson pitched the first 2.0 innings with no walks and four strikeouts, while Johnson (2-1) fired the final 3.0 frames with two walks and five strikeouts. Samantha Mecklenburg (1-11) gave up 15 runs (just five earned) while walking 10 and striking out one in 4.0 innings for Lesley University.
Game 2- Lydia Rice hit a two-run homerun in the fourth inning that proved to be the game winner, as Husson completed the sweep with a 9-6 victory. Rice knocked in three runs in the Eagles win on two hits. Ana Lang (9-2) continued her fantastic freshman year in the circle allowing just two hits and no runs with two walks and nine strikeouts in 4.0 innings. Kari Sorensen and Mia Santilli both had two RBI for Lesley University, while Emma Hodgkins (2-7) suffered the pitching loss as she was charged with eight earned runs on 12 hits with seven walks and two strikeouts in 6.0 innings. The Lynx fall to 3-20 and 0-6 in the NAC.
Husson softball is now 18-4 and 4-0 in conference play, and will take their 13 game win streak into another NAC doubleheader on Senior Day at home on Sunday at 1 p.m. as they welcome in Eastern Nazarene College.
Recaps and photos by Chris Lessner
