It was a tale of two nicely pitched games on Thursday, as Husson softball visited the University of Southern Maine in Gorham for a non-conference doubleheader. Sky Johnson led the Eagles to a 7-2 win in the first game, while former Nokomis High standout in freshman Mia Coots responded and outdueled Ana Lang in a game two Huskies victory 1-0.
In the opening contest- Johnson was once again strong in the circle help to lead the Eagles to the win. Husson held a 1-0 lead until the sixth inning where they broke it open. Lexi Volinsky (Noble) and Lyndsee Reed (Hermon) both walked with the bases loaded, and then Lydia Rice (Winthrop) reached on a two-run error to extend the advantage to 5-0. Kiara McLeod (Oxford Hills) later added a two-run single in the seventh. Johnson (10-3) earned the victory, allowing one earned run in the complete game effort while not walking a batter and striking out 13. Camryn King (Nokomis), Julia Gregiore (Massabesic), and McLeod all had two hits each. Finley Folkett had two hits, and Olivia Levasseur drove in a run for the Huskies.
In game two- Coots went the distance only allowing three hits, as USM salvaged the split and ended the Husson win streak at 12. Maddy Paradis drove in the only run with a first inning single for the Huskies. The Eagles had the tying run at second with one out in the seventh, but Morgan Tainter struckout and Emily Dunbar (Skowhegan) popped out to Coots to end it. Lang (Searsport) dropped to 5-4 striking out 12 and walking none in 6.0 innings in the Husson loss. Coots walked two and struckout three in improving to 10-7 on the season. The Huskies record is now 17-15.
Husson is 18-10, and will take their 2-0 North Atlantic Conference record into four league games this weekend beginning on Friday on the road with a doubleheader at Lesley University. The Eagles will then host UMPI for two on Sunday at O’Keefe Field in Bangor on Senior Day.
