Bangor, ME - The Husson University baseball team plated 15 runs in the game, but on this day, that offensive outpouring was not enough to better the Bobcats of Bates College who came in to Bangor and scored 20 in a shootout at the Winkin Complex. The Eagles fall to 7-7 (4-0 NEAC) with the loss, while Bates improves to 11-4 (0-0 NESCAC) on the year.

The Eagles benefitted from another strong showing from senior designated hitter Jason Smith (Milford, ME) who went 4-5 at the plate with two triples and a double, driving in a team-high four RBI while scoring a pair of his own. Shortstop Cody McInnis (Bangor, ME) went 1-5 with three RBI and two runs scored. Jake Arthers (Belfast, ME) was just 1-5 but made that hit count, driving in a pair on a first inning double. 

For Bates, Nate Pajka (Douglas, MA) was 3-6 at the dish, homering in the third inning and driving in a team-high four runs while scoring four on the day. First baseman Kevin McGregor (Randolph, NJ) went 3-5, and tied for the team lead with four RBI and three runs scored. Sam Maliska (Palo Alto, CA) rounded out the heart of the Bates order who combined for 12 RBI in the game, chipping in three of his own on a 2-5 day at the plate.

Husson jumped out to an early lead after a quick top of the first, stepping up to the plate in the bottom of the inning and hanging four while sending all nine batters to the box. Dylan Foster (Oakland, ME) led off the inning with a single to right center, and after a strikeout, Arthers doubled down the left field line to light up the board for the first time in the game. J. Smith kept things going with his first triple of the day that plated Arthers. Catcher Nick Lancisi (Dover, ME) kept the rally going with a double to left center that brought home J. Smith and it was quickly 3-0 in favor of the Eagles. After Shawn Smith (Winterport, ME) reached on an error that put runners on the corners, first baseman Benjamin McLain (Pemaquid, ME) put the ball in play, reaching on an error that scored Lancisi and Husson had a four run advantage after one.

The Bobcats got one back in the top of the second, but it was in the top of the third inning that they took the lead with a four run spurt of their own. With two outs in the inning, Mekae Hyde (Lewiston, ME) started the rally with a single to left, and Mike Ciummei (Acton, MA) kept things going with a single of his own. Pajka stepped up to bat with the wind whipping out to left, and sent a line drive in that direction that carried over the wall to level the score. McGregor singled to second base, and Maliska was first-pitch-swinging, sending the ball down the left field line and that would plate McGregor and give Bates a lead that they wouldn't give up. 

After the Eagles went down in order in the top of the third, the Bobcats loaded the bases with one out in the fourth inning, and Husson helped them out by walking three straight batters for three more insurance runs. The Eagles continued their troubles by committing three errors that inning for four more Bates runs as the visitors hung 7 in the inning to take a 12-4 lead after three and a half.

Husson would answer in the bottom of the fourth as McLain started the rally by taking a pitch off the shoulder, and later swiped second. He would come around to score as Josh Tardiff (Hampden, ME) put the ball in play and reached on a Bobcat error. McInnis smacked a pitch out to right field and as the ball got by the Bates fielder, the fleet-of-foot shortstop wheeled around the bases for an inside-the-park home run that plated Tardiff and brought the score to 12-7. The Eagles added one more as Arthers later reached on a fielder's choice and scored on J. Smith's second triple of the day.

As the Eagles came within a grand-slam of tying the game, the Bobcats stretched their lead by scoring five runs on seven hits in the top of the fifth to take a 17-8 advantage. Husson once again rallied to keep it close, matching the five run outburst in the bottom of the inning. S. Smith walked to lead off the inning and moved to third on a McLain single up the middle. After a Husson strikeout, McInnis reached on an error that scored S. Smith and put runners on the corners. Foster kept it going with a single to left that plated McLain. After a Kyle Vanidestine (Bangor, ME) walk that loaded the bases, Arthers came through with a sac fly to left that scored McLain and put the Eagles in double-digits at 17-10. J. Smith cleared the bases with a double down the right field line, bringing Husson to within four again with the score 17-13 after five. 

Bates added a run in the tops of the sixth and seventh, and the Eagles came up to the plate in the bottom of the eighth inning trailing 19-13. J. Smith led-off the inning with a single to third base, and moved to second on a line-drive up the middle by Lancisi. J. Smith moved to third on a passed ball after a Husson strikeout, and came in to score on a McLain sac fly. Lancisi moved up to second on a passed ball and first year second baseman Brandon Gendreau (Brewer, ME) drove him home with a single down the right field line. The Bobcats pushed one more across in the top of the ninth to round out the scoring at 20-15. 

The Eagles are back in action on Thursday as they take the Alfond Diamond at the John W. Winkin Complex at 4:00 pm against the #27 ranked Monks of St. Joseph's College. Bates will kick off New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) play beginning Friday the 30th at 3:00 pm when the open up a three game series at home against Tufts.