BANGOR, Maine – The Husson University baseball team has inched one step closer to capturing a sixth-consecutive North Atlantic Conference Championship after it defeated Thomas College 4-0 on Friday afternoon to advance to the conference title game at the Dr. John W. Winkin Sports Complex.
Husson (23-14) and Thomas (19-21) went to battle much like the majority of their meetings normally occur, as neither side registered a base hit in the contest through the first two-and-a-half innings before Patrick Temby reached on a softly hit ball up the middle.
Despite not having a hit through the first five frames, Husson was still able to put runners on in four out of the first five innings, including placing a runner on second in the first and fourth innings.
The Eagles finally broke through off of Thomas's starter in the top of the sixth on a single through the left side from graduate student Jackson Curtis.
After advancing to second on a wild pitch, Curtis was driven in two batters later by senior Tanner Evans to put the Eagles up 1-0.
Following a one-two-three inning from junior Tanner Audyatis out of the bullpen, Husson added its second run of the contest after junior Colin Marshall hit a ground-rule double to right-center field to lead off the inning.
Following back-to-back outs, junior Cam Rendell came through for the Eagles with a single up the middle to plate Marshall and double the Husson lead.
Thomas managed to load the bases in the bottom of the seventh, but junior Ben Phillips induced a ground ball to shortstop to end the inning and keep the Terriers off the board.
Errors doomed the Terriers in the top of the ninth, as senior Ryne Rametta reached on a miscue from the Thomas shortstop, while with two outs, graduate student Akira Warren plated Rametta after a dropped fly ball in the Thomas outfield to make the score 3-0.
Rendell struck again with two outs with another single to bring in Warren and extend the Husson lead to 4-0 headed into the bottom of the ninth.
Phillips was able to slam the door with a perfect inning and send the Eagles to the championship game.
Rendell led the Eagles at the plate with two hits and two RBIs, while Evans recorded a hit, two walks and one RBI.
Senior Matt Wallingford was electric for Husson in five-plus innings on the mound, surrendering just three hits and striking out four.
Audyatis allowed one walk and two hits in his 1.2 innings, while Phillips gave up just one base-knock in the final 2.1 innings.
Husson will face Thomas again in the NAC title game on Sunday at 11 a.m. after the Terriers defeated Lesley University to end the day. Thomas will need to defeat Husson twice to win the title, while the Eagles need just one win for the crown.
