BANGOR, Maine - The Husson University Eagles split their doubleheader with the University of Maine at Farmington Beavers on Friday night in the first day of a four-game series on the Harold Alfond Diamond. Following 16 innings of play, both teams open up North Atlantic Conference (NAC) play, 1-1. Husson baseball grabbed the first win with ease after putting up 11 runs in the second inning to capture their 400th conference victory in program history with the 19-5 triumph. The Beavers made a huge comeback in the second game, taking down the Eagles 5-1 in seven innings. 

GAME 1: Husson 19, UMF 5

After a scoreless first inning, the Eagles struck big in the second, scoring 11 runs on seven hits to take a commanding lead. A Conor Maguire triple and doubles from Michael Schneider and Ethan Stoddard kept the Eagles running around and around the bases as they batted around the order.

The Eagles tacked on two more runs the following inning and never looked back finishing the game with 19 runs on 13 hits. Despite the Beavers recording more hits with 15, their ninth inning two-run rally wasn't enough to make a full comeback. A Zach Hartsgrove single put him on base as he worked his way around to third, scoring on a Chase Malloy double. Derek Bowen stepped up to the plate blasting a hard shot to left center to help Malloy use wheels to race around to home. The Eagles escaped the rallying inning with a groundout, leaving two Beavers stranded to capture the 19-5 victory.

ON THE MOUND:

For Husson, senior Ryan Allender threw seven strong innings, allowing three earned. Senior lefty Matt P. Smith pitched the final two innings to slam the door. Between the two Eagles, they combined for seven strikeouts and just two walks.

The Beavers' starter Justin Rodrigue had a rough second inning before getting relieved. UMF used six different pitchers throughout game one, giving up 11 earned runs as a team. 

HUSSON LEADERS:

• In five at bats, Maguire drove in four RBI on two hits while scoring one run.
• Nolan Brown went 1-2, grabbing two RBI while scoring both times. 
• David LeBlanc batted 1-3, sending home two RBI while posting impressive baserunning as he stole two bases. 

UMF LEADERS:

• Rodrigue, Malloy, Kevin Carter, and Joshua Xanders all tallied doubles in game one.
• Troy Johnson went 2-3 with one RBI. 

GAME 2: UMF 5, Husson 1

In game two, the Beavers came out aggressive, scoring a run in both the first and second innings with a completely different atmosphere on the diamond as UMF opened up with a 2-0 advantage. Justin Rodrigue led off the game at the plate with an immediate triple to deep right center to get the ball rolling. 

In the bottom of the fourth, the Eagles cut the deficit in half on a Luke Covey RBI single to score Nick Guerrette with Husson's first hit of the game. UMF quickly got the third out of the inning and held the Eagles to just one more hit in the following three innings as they tacked on three more runs in the fifth and never looked back.

ON THE MOUND:

The Beavers were backed by a strong pitching performance from Brice Springer who threw a complete game, just giving up one lone earned run and two hits. 

Alex Brooks got the start for the Eagles, but was relieved  in the fifth by Jacob Gauvin to help put some outs on the board as Gauvin struck out two batters to cap off the top of the inning. Nolan Dousa made an appearance in the final inning with a K. 

HUSSON LEADERS:

• Both Husson hits were recorded by seniors, Covey and Alex Chapman.
• Guerrette was the lone Eagle to take a walk to first base. 
• Guerrette, Chapman, and Kobe Rogerson worked together a double play.