TUCSON, AZ. – Husson University (1-3) took a split on their second day at the Tucson Invitational Games on Tuesday. The Eagles dropped a game to Moravian (5-3) 9-1, and captured their first victory of the season in a big way by defeating Rockford (1-2) 14-5.

GAME ONE: Moravian 9, Husson 1

The Eagles took to the bats first to start off the game. Sophomore Chloe Gorey got things going by reaching first on an error by third baseman, Lauren Goetz. With one out, Olivia Smith stepped up and drove a double into the outfield allowing Gorey to reach third. The early momentum was stopped when Morgan Coleman grounded out to the shortstop, and Gorey was caught trying to reach home after the play.

Smith took the mound for the Eagles heading into the bottom half of the inning. Moravian was able to get their own momentum going by scoring three runs off four hits. Smith was able to induce a groundout and fly out to end the inning.

Moravian pitcher Josie Novak was able to keep the Eagles bats cool for the majority of the game. Novak had her only earned run come in the third inning where Brianna Bires reached on a single, Bri Brochu then reached on a throwing error allowing Bires to advance to third, and Brochu reached second. Smith then stepped up and produced a sac fly to right field allowing Bires to tag up and score.

Moravian was able to capitalize on Eagle errors and scored six more runs in the next two innings. Husson could not get a rally together late in game and fell to the Greyhounds 9-1.

ON THE MOUND:

• Junior Olivia Smith pitched 2.0 innings giving up six hits, four earned runs, and had one strikeout.
• Sophomore Jen Jones pitched 2.0 innings giving up four hits, three earned runs, and had two strikeouts.

OFF THE BAT:

• Brochu was 1-3 with a single
• Smith was 1-2 with a double and sac fly RBI.
• Bires was 1-2 with a single and run scored.

GAME TWO: Rockford 5, Husson 14

Husson's bats came back strong in the second game of the day. The Eagles complied 10 hits in just four innings of work off Rockford pitcher Allison Kaiser. Husson got things going in the first inning when Chloe Gorey was hit by a pitch and reached first base. Olivia Smith then stepped up to reach first on an error and move Gorey over to second. Morgan Coleman then drew a walk to load the bases. An error on a Tamara Aunchman ground ball allowed all the runners to move and Gorey to score. Kylie Kennedy drew another walk, and Olivia Maynard singled bringing in 3 more Eagle runs.

Smith stepped onto the mound and controlled the pace of the game. Smith threw comfortably throughout the entire game. Rockford's first runs came in the second inning off of two Husson errors and one hit. Smith then allowed only three hits in the final two innings of the shortened game.

Sophomore Madelyn Fowler was 3-3 against Rockford with three RBI off two left-center doubles and scored two of Husson's runs. Aunchman also added three RBI of her own when she hit a bases clearing double to the fence, and Kylie Kennedy followed with a double of her own later in the game producing two RBI.

ON THE MOUND:

• Junior Olivia Smith pitched 5.0 innings for the Eagles giving up two earned runs on seven hits and had four strikeouts.

OFF THE BAT:

• Fowler went 3-3 with three hits, 3 RBI, and 2 runs scored.
• Aunchman was 1-2 with one hit, 3 RBI, and 1 run scored.
• Maynard was 2-3 with two hits, 3 RBI, and 1 run scored.

NEXT!

Husson returns to action tomorrow at 11:00 AM MST vs Otterbein and 1:30 PM MST vs #2 St. John Fisher in Tucson, Ariz. at Lincoln Park.