WATERVILLE, Maine – The Husson University baseball team salvaged a doubleheader split with Thomas College on Tuesday afternoon, dropping game one 8-4, before erupting offensively in game two for a 22-8 win in Waterville.
GAME ONE: Thomas 8, Husson 4
Much like the first two games between these North Atlantic Conference rivals, Husson (18-13, 10-3 NAC) struck first, but a five-run third inning from Thomas (17-17, 9-4 NAC) proved to be the difference-maker for the Terriers to secure the season-series win over the Eagles.
A passed ball with the bases loaded in the top of the first allowed graduate student Jackson Curtis to plate the first run of the game to put the Eagles up 1-0.
Husson added two more runs in the top of the third, as an RBI-single from junior Cam Rendell plated sophomore Matt Holmes, while another passed ball scored junior Hunter Curtis to give Husson a 3-0 edge after the top-half of the third.
Thomas, who has made a living off of big innings in the series, produced another in the third inning, as a two-RBI single got the Terriers to within one, while a three-run homer flipped the script of the game and gave them the lead.
The Terriers added a solo homer in the home-half of the fifth to double-up the Eagles, but an RBI-single from J. Curtis in the visitor-half of the sixth got the run back for Husson.
Looking to head into the top of the seventh down just two runs, the Terriers got two big insurance runs in the form of a two-run home run to extend their lead and comfortably come away with the win.
Senior Tanner Evans led the way for Husson in game one with two of the team's seven hits, while junior Keegan Cyr drew three walks.
Despite surrendering eight runs, the Eagles managed to get through game one using just three arms, as junior Allen Wheaton suffered the loss in relief of starter freshman Chris Lusignan.
GAME TWO: Husson 22, Thomas 8
Following both teams scoring two runs in the second inning, Husson (19-13, 11-3 NAC) combined for 17 runs in the third and fourth innings to score its most runs since 2014 en route to a commanding win in game two.
Graduate student Akira Warren got the scoring started in the top of the second with a two-RBI double, but his two run base-hit would be matched by Thomas (13-18, 9-5 NAC) in the home-half of the second with a passed ball and a sacrifice fly.
Husson regained possession of its lead in a big way with a nine-run third inning, which was started by a two-run home run from H. Curtis and also included a three-run homer from junior Colin Marshall, in addition to a wild pitch, an RBI-single, a bases loaded walk and a sacrifice fly to give the Eagles an 11-2 edge after two-and-a-half innings.
The Eagles followed up that big inning with an eight-run fourth inning, which was highlighted by a three-run long-ball from J. Curtis and also had RBI-singles from Evans and Cyr, a bases loaded hit by pitch and a two-RBI single from Evans to extend the lead to 19-2 for Husson.
Husson added one run in the fifth inning on an RBI-single from Rendell and two in the sixth inning on a bases loaded hit by pitch and a bases loaded walk to close out its scoring at 22 runs.
The Terriers plated six runs in the bottom of the sixth inning, but the damage had been done for the Eagles, as they secured a split in Tuesday's doubleheader.
Evans once again led the way at the plate for Husson with three hits, four RBIs and two runs scored, while Warren, J. Curtis and Rendell each had two hits and Warren, J. Curtis and H. Curtis all had three RBIs.
As a team, the Eagles drew 19 walks, which tied the single-game program record, while sophomore Henry Lausier tied the second-most walks in a single-game with four free passes.
Six Husson pitchers got the Eagles through game two, as graduate student Alex Smith and juniors Tanner Audyatis and Jack Cote combined for four scoreless innings and six strikeouts, while Smith earned his third win of the year.
Husson is back in action for the final four games of the regular season this Saturday and Sunday when it travels to the University of Maine at Farmington for doubleheaders on both days beginning at 12 p.m.
