BARTOW, Fla. – The Husson University softball team split a pair of games in Florida on Wednesday, dropping a narrow 3–2 decision to No. 23 Belhaven University before bouncing back with a 6–4 victory over Albertus Magnus College later in the day.
No. 23 Belhaven 3, Husson 2:
Belhaven (10-6) rallied late to edge the Eagles (8-1) in the opening game of the day.
Husson got on the board in the bottom of the second inning. Senior Lydia Rice drew a leadoff walk and moved to second when senior Tayler Watterson also walked. After sophomore Allie Casavant laid down a sacrifice bunt to move both runners into scoring position, freshman Braelynn Wilcox reached on a fielder's choice that allowed Rice to score and give the Eagles a 1–0 lead.
Belhaven tied the game in the fifth inning with a sacrifice fly that plated a run to make it 1–1. Husson answered in the bottom half of the inning. Freshman Jetta Shook singled to start the frame and later scored when senior Morgan Tainter reached on a fielding error, putting the Eagles back in front at 2–1.
The Blazers responded in the top of the seventh inning. Back-to-back singles put two runners aboard before a two-run double down the left field line brought both runners home and gave Belhaven a 3–2 lead. Husson was unable to rally in the bottom of the inning, as the Blazers held on for the one-run win.
Shook, freshman Sophia Lynch, and Watterson recorded Husson's three hits in the contest. Wilcox and Tainter each drove in a run.
In the circle, junior Ana Lang went the distance for the Eagles, allowing three runs on seven hits while striking out nine.
Husson 6, Albertus Magnus 4:
The Eagles (9-1) rebounded in the second game, jumping out to an early lead and holding off a late push from Albertus Magnus (3-3).
Husson struck quickly in the top of the first inning. Junior Camryn King walked and stole second before Lynch also reached and swiped a base. Tainter then delivered a two-run double to score both runners. Later in the inning, Watterson added an RBI single to bring home Tainter and give Husson a 3–0 advantage.
The Eagles added another run in the third inning when Watterson singled to drive in freshman Olivia Bragdon, who was running for Rice, extending the lead to 4–0.
Husson continued to add insurance in the fifth inning as Tainter doubled again, scoring King to make it 5–0. The Eagles pushed across another run in the sixth inning when Shook came home on a wild pitch to stretch the lead to 6–0.
Albertus Magnus mounted a late rally in the bottom of the seventh inning, scoring four runs to trim the deficit to 6–4, but Husson was able to record the final out to secure the victory.
Tainter led the Eagles offensively, going 3-for-4 with two doubles and three RBIs. Watterson added two hits and two RBIs, while King scored twice and stole three bases.
In the circle, junior Sierra Yates earned the win after pitching six innings, allowing four runs—just one earned—while striking out six. Junior Jazmin Johnson recorded the final outs to help seal the victory.
The Eagles begin action on day six of their trip against Earlham College at 10 a.m., before battling No. 11 Moravian University at 12:30 p.m. to close out Thursday.
