Bangor, ME - Husson softball held off Johnson State Tuesday in a North Atlantic Conference quarterfinal to secure hosting this weekend's double-elimination tournament with the three other remaining teams in the field.

The Eagles used strong pitching from starter Amanda Ryan and a shutout relief appearance from Becca McCarty to entered the game in the third inning with one out. Ryan allowed the Badgers' lone run and struck out six while McCarty completely shut down JSC striking out four and not allowing a baserunner in the final two and two-thirds.

In the bottom of the second the Eagles struck first on a Haley Spiers RBI ground out to second, plating Deb Colpitts for the 1-0 lead.

In the top of the third the Badgers knotted the game at one on a big Andrea Williams double, helping her own cause, that scored Katja Langmaid.

In the bottom half the Eagles put three more on the board to go up 4-1. Courtney Hill reached first on a single towards the pitcher, stole second and advanced to third on a passed ball. Aimee Mortensen then drove in the senior right fielder on a double into left center. Mortensen then switched places with Sami Schultz as she doubled to left as well, making the score 3-1. Allison Hill pinch ran for Schultz and advanced to third on a Victoria Overlock single and scored on a fielding error in left.

After an Overlock single up the middle in the bottom of the fourth that scored Courtney Hill, Colpitts added a single of her own that resulted in a throwing error, scoring Overlock and Mortensen. With Colpitts on third due to the error, Heidi Shaw reached on an error by the third basemen that allowed Colpitts to score as well.

The Eagles needed only one more run in the bottom of the fifth to secure the eight-run rule deficit and win the game. Lona Sargent singled to the left side, stole second, advanced to third on a an error and scored on a passed ball four for Mortensen.

Williams was charged with the loss for the Badgers and McCarty picked up the win for Husson.

Check back to HussonEagles.com for more information in the coming days about the NAC tournament to be held at Husson's O'Keefe Field.