The Husson University Eagles baseball team started the North Atlantic Conference tournament at Castleton, Vermont on a high note Saturday by knocking off the top seed. But the Eagles dropped two games Sunday, eliminating them from postseason play.
Husson topped the host top seeded Spartans 7-2 on Saturday, but Sunday an 8-5 loss in extra innings to New England College, and a close 4-3 loss to Castleton sent the Eagles home.
In game one Sunday, Husson held an early 2-0 lead, before the Pilgrims rallied to take a 5-2 advantage. Husson wouldn’t go away, scoring single runs in the sixth, seventh, and eighth to tie the game.
Husson had the winning run at third with two out in the bottom of the ninth, but David Hutchins popped out to first to end the threat. A two run single by Evan Delaney and an RBI single from Andrew Castrano in the 10th inning provided the difference.
Jesse Colford (2-2) suffered the loss in relief allowing three runs, two earned, on four hits, with one walk, and three strikeouts in 4.2 innings.
In game two Sunday against Castleton, Husson would once again fall behind and then rally late only to fall short.
A solo homer from Zach Bahan, a pair of RBI doubles by Jonathan Lindeau, and an RBI single from Dillon Benham had the Spartans up 4-0 in the seventh.
An RBI double by Sam Huston, a throwing error by the Spartans allowing another run to score, and an RBI single from Ryan Rebar got Husson within 4-3 in the bottom of the eighth. Davis Mikell shut down the Eagles in the ninth though to earn the save, striking out the side.
Ryan Allender (2-3) took the loss on the mound for Husson, going 5.2 innings, allowing three earned runs, eight hits, with three walks, and two strikeouts.
Husson ends their season with a final overall record of 22-20.
Castleton and New England College will square off Monday for the NAC title and a trip to the regionals. The Pilgrims need just one win to advance, as the home Spartans must win twice to capture the title.
