BANGOR, Maine - The Husson University baseball team (0-2) dropped both games on their opening day and home opener doubleheader against the #11 ranked University of Southern Maine on Saturday at the Harold Alfond Diamond at the Dr. John W. Winkin Sports Complex on Saturday Afternoon. The Huskies won game one with a 16-6 victory and took the nightcap, 5-2.

GAME ONE - SOUTHERN MAINE 16, HUSSON 6

HOW IT HAPPENED:

The Huskies struck first in the top of the first when Sam Troiano smashed a double down the left field line, plating Dylan Hapworth with the game's first run.

USM then added six runs in the third, five in the fourth and three in fifth to increase the score to 15-0.

Now trailing by double digits in the bottom of the sixth, Husson got one run back when Brandon Smith hit an infield single down the third base line, sending home Tyler Parke.

Southern Maine got that run back in the top of the eighth as Cam Seymour roped a two-out home run over the right field wall.

The Eagles would cut into the 15-run deficit in the bottom of the ninth as they pushed five runs across while sending ten batters to the plate in the inning. Kobe Rogerson forced in a run after being hit by a pitch. David LeBlanc registered a two out two-run single to left center and Chris Ewanik followed LeBlanc with a double to left field, plating the final two runs for the Eagles.

ON THE MOUND:

Cam Graham (0-1) opened up the 2021 season on the mound for the Eagles seeing 2.1 innings giving up seven runs (two earned) and registering two strikeouts.  Alex Brooks, Jack Corey, Logan Sheridan, Zach Whitmore, Jackson Thayer, Ryan Penney and Austin Tomalonis all pitched in relief.  

Ben Lambert (1-0) went five innings for USM, striking out nine batters while only walking two. Cody Braga, Nick Polizonis, and Wyatt Williams pitched the final four innings to secure the victory for the Huskies.

OFF THE BAT – HUSSON:

• Ewanik went 3-4 with a double, a walk, and two RBIs.
• Parke went 2-5 with a double.
• LeBlanc, B. Smith and Nick Swift each registered a hit in the setback.

OFF THE BAT – SOUTHERN MAINE:

• Andrew Olszak went 2-5 with three RBIs, two walks, and a run scored.
• Troiano went a perfect 2-2 with a RBI, a double and two runs scored.
• Jonathan Wilson went 2-4 with five RBIs, a home run, a double and three runs scored.
• Seymour went 2-4 with three RBIs, a home run and two runs scored.

GAME TWO - SOUTHERN MAINE 5, HUSSON 2

HOW IT HAPPENED:

The game remained scoreless until the top of the fifth when Wilson hit a sacrifice fly to center sending home Troiano with the game's first run.

The 1-0 edge remained until the top of the sixth when the Huskies added three runs off three hits and an Eagle miscue to push their advantage to four. Jason Komulainen led off the inning with a solo shot down the left field line before Andrew Hillier singled through the left side with two outs, then scored on a Hapworth double to left center. Hapworth scored the final run of the inning off an Eagle miscue.

In the bottom of the eighth, LeBlanc doubled home Akira Warren and later scored on a two-out single to left center by Ewanik.

The Huskies tacked on their fifth and final run in the bottom of the ninth, when Seymour doubled home Troiano.

ON THE MOUND:

Brandon Brunell (0-1) was dominant, allowing only a hit and an earned run with five strikeouts in five innings. Blake Slicer allowed three hits and three runs (two earned runs) in one inning, while Harrison Lendrum pitched the final three innings, giving up a hit and a unearned run with two strikeouts.

Joshua Joy (1-0) pitched seven scoreless innings to pick the victory for the Huskies. He allowed two hits with nine punch-outs. Gavin Arsenault allowed two runs off three hits over final two frames with a strikeout.

OFF THE BAT – HUSSON:

• Ewanik went 1-4 with a double, and a RBI.
• LeBlanc went 1-4 with a double, a RBI and a run scored.
• Austin Snow, Rogerson and Akira Warren each registered a hit in the setback.

OFF THE BAT – SOUTHERN MAINE:

• Hapworth went 1-4 with a double, a RBI and a run scored.
• Troiano went 1-4 with a double and two runs scored.
• Komulainen went 1-4 with a RBI, a home run, a run scored.

NEXT!

The Eagles and the Huskies return to Harold Alfond Diamond tomorrow for another twin bill. First Pitch for game one is set for 12:00 p.m.