MANSFIELD, Conn. – The Husson University baseball team dropped its opening-game of the 2024 NCAA Division III Baseball Willimantic, Conn. Regional to No. 1 Endicott College by a score of 6-2 on Friday afternoon at the Eastern Baseball Stadium on the campus of Eastern Connecticut State University.

Husson (23-11) saw the bottom of its order get the scoring started against Endicott (42-2), as freshman Kevin Connolly doubled to right-center field in the visitor-half of the third to score junior Tanner Evans and give the Eagles a 1-0 lead.

The lead would hold for Husson until the home-half of the fourth inning, as the Gulls used a two-RBI single to take possession of the lead after four innings.

After Endicott posted another run in the bottom of the sixth, the Eagles would shave one run off the deficit in the following inning thanks to sophomore Keegan Cyr, who singled home Connolly.

The Gulls would all-but end the hopes of a comeback for Husson in their final turn at the plate, as they posted three runs in bottom of the eighth to extend their lead to 6-2.

Three-straight strikeouts from the Eagles in the top of the ninth would end the game and send Husson to the loser's bracket of the regional.

Cyr and Connolly posted four of the five hits for the Eagles in the contest, while sophomore Cam Rendell tallied the other base-knock. 

Junior Matt Wallingford got the start on the hill for Husson, lasting five innings, while limiting Endicott to two earned runs on seven hits and two walks, in addition to three strikeouts. Sophomore Tanner Audyatis and senior Ryan Penney finished off the other three innings for the Eagles.

Husson will be back in action tomorrow when it plays against Eastern Connecticut State University at 11 a.m. with the loser of the game being eliminated from the regional.