PLYMOUTH, N.H. – The Husson University softball team extended its winning streak to 11 games on Thursday evening, as it defeated Plymouth State University in a non-conference doubleheader by scores of 9-8 and 9-0.
GAME 1:
After a scoreless first inning to begin Thursday's doubleheader, Husson (16-4) got in the scoring column first, as a ground-rule double from senior Kenzie Dore and back-to-back walks from senior Julia Gregoire and junior Kiara McLeod loaded the bases. Senior Olivia McCarty got a run in for the Eagles as she plated Dore on a sacrifice fly to center field.
Husson doubled its lead the following inning behind the strong baserunning of freshman Camryn King who stole second base and advanced to third and scored on wild pitches after drawing a one-out walk. Plymouth State (8-16) cut the deficit in half its next turn at the plate, but a big fifth inning from the Eagles gave them a 5-1 lead after the top-half of the fifth.
Senior Jess Pomerleau got the inning started after she was hit by a pitch and would later score on a wild pitch after stealing second base and advancing to third on a ground ball. Junior Bulla McCabe would follow Pomerleau's lead, as she was also struck by a pitch, and classmate Tori Exel wouldn't leave McCabe stranded on the basepath, as she doubled to left field to score the catcher. Exel would also find her way home following two more wild pitches, as it was 5-1 Husson following the fifth.
The Panthers and the Eagles would then trade two-run innings, as Plymouth State cut the lead in half in the bottom of the fifth, but two more runs from Husson immediately gave them its four-run edge back. Following McLeod reaching second base due to an error to begin the visitor-half of the sixth, freshman Josie Cornell ripped a single back up the middle to score McLeod. Pomerleau gave the Eagles another runner in scoring position following a walk and a stolen base and the Greenville, Maine native would cross home after King singled to center field.
A five-run inning from the Panthers in the bottom of the sixth gave them an 8-7 lead and needing just three outs to record a game one victory. Dore continued her hot hitting at the plate, as she gave Husson immediate life with a lead-off triple to start the seventh.
Gregoire wasted no time getting the tying run in, as she singled to left field to knot the game up at eight. The Eagles had back-to-back opportunities with the bases loaded following two-straight walks and a fielder's choice that prevented the go-ahead run from scoring and graduate student Katie Raymond took advantage of the latter of the two chances with a sacrifice fly to center field that scored McLeod from third base.
Freshman Ana Lang posted her seventh win of the season in the circle after she came in with one out in the sixth inning to relieve sophomores Danielle Masterson and Emily Rerick. Lang allowed no runs on one hit and one walk and struck out four hitters in her 1.2 innings of work.
GAME 2:
Husson picked up right where it left off to begin game two, as a sacrifice fly from Dore scored Raymond and a single courtesy of Exel plated King and the score was 2-0 Eagles right out of the gate.
Two more runs came the way of Husson in the third inning, as Dore continued to rake offensively, as she singled to allow King to post her second run of the game, while Exel notched another extra-base hit to score Dore to double the lead for the Eagles.
Husson exploded in the top of the fourth, adding four more runs to really break the game open. Consecutive bunt singles from Raymond and King scored Cornell and junior Tatyanna Biamby, while Dore posted her third hit of the game, singling to left-center field to score both Raymond and King.
One more run went on the scoreboard for the Eagles in the top of the fifth, as a double from McLeod scored Cornell from first base to give Husson the 9-0 edge.
Lang got the start in the circle in game two and was nothing short of masterful. The freshman went five innings, allowed no runs, just two baserunners (one hit) and struck out 12 of the 17 batters she faced.
The Eagles are back in action on Saturday at O'Keefe Field when they take on Lesley University in a North Atlantic Conference doubleheader in the team's Maui Strong Game. First-pitch for game one is set for 1 p.m.
