The Husson Eagles and Colby Mules baseball teams after an opening round loss in their NCAA Division III Regionals on Friday, tried to stave off elimination in losers bracket games on Saturday.
At Elliot Ballpark on the campus of the University of Connecticut- After more than a four hour rain delay that also moved the game to the UConn campus in Storrs, Husson kept their season alive courtesy of a Matt Holmes game winning two-run homerun to knock the hosts from Eastern Connecticut State out of the regional with a 4-2 win. Husson took an early 1-0 lead on an RBI sacrifice fly by Cam Rendell in the bottom of the first inning, before Eastern Connecticut State tied it on a passed ball in the top of the fourth. The Warriors took their only lead of the contest on an RBI single by Jared Clark in the top of the sixth at 2-1. In the bottom half of the sixth the Eagles would score three times to pull ahead for good that led to the victory. Akira Warren led off with a single, Jackson Curtis walked, and Rendell had an infield single that loaded the bases with no outs. Hunter Curtis then grounded into a doubleplay that allowed Warren to come across the plate to tie it 2-2. Holmes came up next with the game winner, going opposite field to left for the two-run homerun. Eastern Connecticut State loaded the bases with two outs in the eighth, and also had two runners on base with two outs in the ninth but neither time could come up with the big hit off Husson closer Ryan Robb.
Rendell had two hits to lead Husson in the victory, while Holmes had his huge timely game winning homerun. Connor Abood (6-2) earned the pitching win allowing two runs (one earned) on five hits with three walks and five strikeouts in 6.0 innings. Alex Smith and Robb were both solid in relief, with Robb picking up his fourth save. Alejandro Soriano and Clark both had two hits for Eastern Connecticut State. Matthew Wootton (4-3) took the loss on the hill for the Warriors giving up four runs (three earned) on five hits with two walks and six strikeouts in 6.1 innings. ECSU, out of the Little East Conference, got an at-large bid to get into the regionals and ends their season with a record of 29-15. Husson (24-11) plays another elimination game at 12 p.m. Sunday against SUNY New Palz. The Eagles would have to beat the Hawks, and then defeat the #1 team in the country Endicott College twice to take the regional championship.
At Wallace Field at SUNY Cortland in Cortland, New York- The Colby Mules first appearance in program history in the NCAA Baseball Regionals came to an abrupt two game end, falling to Washington & Jefferson College 7-0 to eliminate them from the tournament. Colby had a chance early to jump on the board, as Marcus Forrester led off with a single in the top of the first inning and with one out Brady O’Brien doubled to centerfield. A perfect relay though from the centerfielder to the shortstop, and the shortstop to the catcher cut down Forrester at the plate. The Presidents got all they needed in the bottom half, as Jacob LaDuca led off with a double and with two outs Scout Zaas drove him in with a double to left center. Washington & Jefferson got some breathing room in the bottom of the fourth inning on a two-run homerun by Brian Feldman, and an RBI double by Luke Alvarez to make it 4-0. They capped off the scoring and the win to stay alive on an RBI single and RBI triple by Josh Dezenzo and Brendan Cruz respectively in the seventh, and an RBI double by Nolan Lutz in the eighth.
O’Brien had two of the three hits on the day for Colby College in the loss. Thomas Rioux (5-1) took the defeat on the mound allowing four runs (one earned) on four hits with two walks and three strikeouts in 4.0 innings. Ryan Grecco and Matthew Scibilio covered the final 4.0 innings in relief. LaDuca, Zaas, and Alvarez had two hits each for Washington & Jefferson College. Feldman had two RBI with his homer. Dante DiMatteo (6-1) pitched a complete game in the victory, giving up no runs on three hits with four walks and 10 strikeouts. The Presidents (34-13) won their second elimination game of the day 3-1 over host SUNY Cortland Saturday evening, advancing them into the championship round to play Salve Regina University on Sunday. W&J will need to beat the Seahawks twice to win the title. The Mules end their season with a record of 29-12.
Recaps by Chris Lessner
