BANGOR, Maine – The Husson University softball team entered Friday at the 2024 NCAA Division III Softball Bangor, Maine Regional needing four wins to make it out of the regional round and it ended the day with half of its goal accomplished.
Husson (37-5) started the day off by getting a walk-off single from junior Bulla McCabe in the bottom of the eighth inning against No. 19 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute to earn a 2-1 win over the Engineers at O'Keefe Field, in addition to defeating Framingham State University in the final game of the day 2-0 at the University of Maine at Orono Softball Complex.
No. 20 Husson 2, No. 19 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 1 (8 Innings):
With offense hard to come-by in the second game of the day from O'Keefe Field, Husson rode eight innings from Ana Lang and a two-RBI day from McCabe to earn a 2-1 win over RPI (34-7-1) and eliminate the Engineers from the regional.
The Eagles found the scoreboard in the opening inning of play, courtesy of a sacrifice fly from McCabe with runners on second and third, which plated graduate student Katie Raymond.
RPI looked to plate the tying-run in the top-half of the third inning, but a steal of home for the Engineers didn't go as planned, as Husson executed a run-down to perfection and ended the inning unblemished.
Neither team was able to push a run across until RPI came to the plate for what was its final opportunity to even the game up in the visitor-half of the seventh inning. A lead-off double and a sacrifice bunt put the Engineers in prime scoring-position with just one out in the inning. RPI would find the equalizer on a double to center field, sending the game to the bottom of the inning in a 1-1 tie.
Following back-to-back scoreless frames from the Eagles and the Engineers, the game looked to be headed to the ninth inning after two quick outs for Husson. A two-out double from senior Kenzie Dore gave the Eagles a sliver of hope, which McCabe took advantage of, as she sent a single up the middle and just past the reach of the RPI shortstop and allowed Dore to score the winning-run.
Lang went the distance in the circle for Husson, allowing just one run on three hits and one walk, while punching out 10 Engineers in eight innings.
Dore posted two of the five hits for the Eagles in game one, while McCabe and freshmen Josie Cornell and Camryn King each tallied a base-hit in the win.
No. 20 Husson 2, Framingham State 0:
Back-to-back RBI-doubles from McCabe and junior Tori Exel were all Husson needed to clinch a spot in the regional championship, as the Eagles defeated Framingham State (25-20) 2-0 at the University of Maine at Orono Softball Complex.
Following two outs to begin the top-half of the first for Husson, a single from Dore gave the Eagles some hope in the inning and doubles from McCabe and Exel would give Husson a 2-0 lead after the opening-inning.
Neither the Eagles or the Rams were able to put more than one runner on base until Framingham State was presented with what seemed to be a golden opportunity in the bottom of the sixth inning. A single, a fielder's choice with an error and a walk loaded the bases for the Rams with just one out in the frame. Lang, who entered the game in relief of sophomore Danielle Masterson in the fifth inning, got out of the jam by striking out one batter and getting the final out of the inning on a fielder's choice.
Husson was able to hold-off the Rams in the bottom of the seventh after failing to add an insurance run and advance to tomorrow's regional final at O'Keefe Field.
Senior Julia Gregoire tallied two hits to lead the Eagles at the plate, while Dore, McCabe, Exel and junior Kiara McLeod also tallied one hit each.
Masterson and Lang combined to completely shut down the Framingham State offense, as Masterson allowed no runs on two hits and two walks in four innings pitched, while Lang earned her third save of the season by pitching three innings of one-hit, one-walk and zero-run softball.
Husson will need to defeat Williams College twice in Saturday's regional championship to move on to the super regional, as first-pitch for the first game of the championship series is set for 11 a.m.
