The Husson University baseball and softball teams are closing in on the start of their 2025 season. Both clubs are coming off North Atlantic Conference Tournament Championships and appearances in an NCAA Division III Regional Final game in 2024.
The Husson baseball team went 25-12 last spring (16-2 NAC), beating SUNY Cobleskill in the league championship game before going 2-2 in the Division III Tournament and falling to Endicott College 4-3 in the Willimantic, Connecticut Regional Final 4-3. It was their first appearance in school history in a regional final. The Eagles return seven of their top eight hitters from last season, including graduate infielder Jackson Curtis (Ellsworth High School) who hit .369 with 10 homeruns and 36 runs batted in. The top four at the plate, who are returning players, all hit over .300. Outfielder Matt Holmes (Bangor High) batted .349 with seven homers and 26 RBI, while utility junior Cam Rendell (.326/1/17), and graduate outfielder Akira Warren (.302/1/24) also hope to contribute in 2025. The pitching staff returns starters in graduate Alex Smith, seniors Matt Wallingford and Connor Abood, along with Rendell. There will be plenty of arms that should be expected to see time on the hill either starting or out of the bullpen including newcomer and freshman Noah Hurd (Mt. View High School). Husson was expected to open the new season on Saturday, March 1st when they were to play a non-conference doubleheader at Gordon College in Wenham, Massachusetts but that was canceled. The Eagles will now open their campaign with a three game series at Oglethorpe University on Friday, March 7th in Atlanta, Georgia before heading to Davenport, Florida to play four games in four days in the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational on Monday, March 10th- Thursday, March 13th (vs Stockton University, Vassar College, Mitchell College, Marymount University). They’ll head back East after that to play at Colby College (3/19), at nationally ranked Salve Regina University (2 games on 3/22), and in Orono to take on UMaine (3/26), before opening the North Atlantic Conference schedule on March 29th and 30th with a pair of road doubleheaders at Lesley University. The home opener is a non-conference matchup with the University of Southern Maine on April 1st, while the conference home openers are later that week on April 5th and 6th vs UMPI (four game series). Husson was picked to finish first in the pre-season NAC East Division poll getting three first place votes, followed by second place Thomas College who got one vote.
The Husson softball team is coming off their best season in program history in 2024 finishing 37-6 (12-0 NAC) and at one point won a school record 30 games in a row, which was snapped in the opening game of the Division III Tournament. The Eagles defeated SUNY Poly 4-3 in the league championship game, and then hosted the regionals in Bangor and Orono going 2-2 and having their season ended by Williams College 4-0 in the regional final. They’ll return four of their top five hitters from a season ago led by graduate infielder Julia Gregiore who batted .384 with two homers and 19 RBI last spring. Sophomore utility Camryn King (Nokomis High School) hit .318 with 13 RBI, senior catcher Bulla McCabe batted .330 with 22 RBI, while senior first baseman Tori Exel (Noble High) came in at .323 with two homers and 34 RBI. In the circle, the duo of junior Danielle Masterson (Hampden Academy) and sophomore Ana Lang (Searsport High School) are back. Masterson started 20 games in 2024 going 13-2 with a 1.44 earned run average with four shutouts. Opposing teams only hit .191 off Masterson, as she struckout 121 in 102.1 innings. Lang had an outstanding freshman season, as she started 18 games and went 18-3 with a 1.25 ERA with three shutouts. Opposing batters hit .187 off Lang, and she struckout an astonishing 190 hitters in 126 innings. Husson is expected to begin the 2025 season on Friday, March 7th in Kissimmee, Florida when they take on Johnson & Wales University. The Eagles will play 14 non-conference games in eight days in the Sunshine State before heading back East to play a doubleheader at Rhode Island College on March 23rd. They continue non-conference action in their home openers on April 2nd with a doubleheader vs Colby. The North Atlantic Conference openers are at Lesley University on April 13th (doubleheader), while the home league openers are set for April 19th with a doubleheader vs Thomas College. The Eagles secured all five first place votes in the pre-season NAC East Division poll, followed by UMaine-Farmington, Thomas College, UMPI, and Lesley. Husson will be seeking their seventh straight conference title in 2025.
