CLERMONT, Fla. – The Husson University softball team recorded a second-consecutive doubleheader split on Tuesday, falling to Penn State-Behrend 8-0 in five innings in game one, before defeating Alfred University 7-2 to finish the day.
GAME 1:
The opening game of Tuesday's doubleheader saw Penn State-Behrend (5-0) tallying one run in each of the first three innings, before tacking on two in the fourth and adding three in the fifth innings to come away with an 8-0, five-inning victory over Husson (5-3).
The Eagles were unable to solve Abby Tingley of the Lions, who pitched five innings of four-hit ball in the circle, allowing no runs, but did not manage to strikeout any Husson batters, recording all 15 outs on balls in play.
Husson couldn't convert on its limited opportunities with runners on base, with its best opportunity coming in the bottom of the fifth, having runners on first and second with no outs after back-to-back singles to start the inning, but a fly out and two-straight ground outs sent the Eagles away quietly to end the game.
Four Eagles combined for the team's four base-knocks in game one, as junior Tori Exel, freshman Josie Cornell and sophomore Tayler Watterson each had a single, while sophomore Morgan Tainter had the lone extra-base hit of the game for Husson, tallying a double.
Freshman Ana Lang went the entire five innings for the Eagles, surrendering six hits, eight runs (four earned) and three walks, while striking out six batters in her second defeat of the season.
GAME 2:
The Husson offense came alive in the final game of the day, as seven combined runs in the second and fifth innings allowed the Eagles to come away with a 7-2 victory over Alfred University.
Following a three-up, three-down inning to open the game, the Eagles came alive in inning number two, as a single from sophomore Emily Dunbar and a double from junior Tatyanna Biamby placed two runners in scoring position for Husson with just one out in the inning. Sophomore Lydia Rice would take advantage of the opportunity, as she plated Dunbar with a single to left field, before stealing second to once again place two runners in scoring position.
After a bunt single from sophomore Morgan Curtis loaded the bases, a sacrifice fly from senior Olivia McCarty would move up each runner, giving Husson a 2-1 edge. Graduate student Katie Raymond would extend the Husson lead, as she doubled and scored both Rice and Curtis to give the Eagles a 4-1 lead after two innings.
Husson would add on some insurance runs in the top-half of the fifth inning, as Biamby would come through with runners on second and third and two outs in the inning, as she singled to center field to score Exel, while Dunbar would score during the ensuing at-bat after a throwing error by the catcher while Biamby stole second base. Rice would conclude the Husson scoring, as she split the left-center field gap and scored Biamby on her first extra-base hit of the season, giving the Eagles a 7-1 edge.
Alfred (2-4) would get a run off Husson in the bottom of the sixth, but it would not be enough, as the tandem of sophomores Danielle Masterson and Emily Rerick held the Saxons to just four hits for the game. Masterson was in the circle for the first two innings, allowing one hit, one earned run and one walk, while Rerick finished off the final five innings, giving up three hits, one earned run and one walk, while striking out two batters.
Curtis led Husson at the plate, tallying three hits, while Dunbar, Biamby and Rice each contributed two base-knocks. Raymond and Rice each knocked in two runs, while Raymond, Biamby and Rice each tallied an extra-base hit in the victory.
The Eagles are back in action on Thursday, as they will play Muskingum University and Simmons University in a doubleheader, with the first game beginning at 11:30 a.m. in Kissimmee, Fla.
