BARTOW, Fla. – The Husson University softball team picked up a pair of victories on Thursday at the Spring Games, defeating Earlham College, 5–3, before shutting out No. 11 Moravian University, 5–0, to improve to 11-1 on the season.
Husson 5, Earlham 3:
Husson (10-1) jumped out to a fast start in the opener against Earlham (4-5), scoring four runs in the bottom of the first inning. Junior Camryn King worked a leadoff walk and stole second before advancing to third on a sacrifice bunt by freshman Lilly Snow. Senior Morgan Tainter then reached on an error that allowed King to score the game's first run. Senior Lydia Rice followed with a single before senior Tayler Watterson reached on another error that brought home Tainter. With two runners on, sophomore Allie Casavant delivered a two-run single up the middle to score Rice and Watterson and give the Eagles a 4-0 lead after one inning.
The Eagles added another run in the second inning. King again reached base and stole second before advancing to third on Snow's second sacrifice bunt of the game. Rice then singled through the left side to drive in King and extend the lead to 5-0.
Freshman Braelynn Wilcox earned the win in the circle for Husson, tossing five innings while allowing three runs on eight hits with two strikeouts. Earlham mounted a rally in the sixth inning, scoring three runs to cut the deficit to two. Junior Jazmin Johnson came on in relief to record the final two outs of the inning before junior Ana Lang closed the door in the seventh, striking out three batters to earn her second save of the season.
Rice finished the game 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored while Casavant drove in two runs. King scored twice and stole two bases as the Eagles secured the 5-3 victory.
Husson 5, No. 11 Moravian 0:
Husson (11-1) carried that momentum into the afternoon game against nationally ranked Moravian (4-4). The Eagles struck in the top of the first inning when Rice and senior Emily Dunbar recorded back-to-back singles before freshman Jetta Shook lined a double to right-center field that scored both runners and gave Husson a 2-0 advantage.
The Eagles added another run in the second inning when Casavant singled and later scored on a throwing error that allowed King to reach base and drive in the run.
Husson extended its lead in the third inning. Rice doubled to center field and later scored on a fielder's choice by Watterson. Casavant then added an RBI groundout to bring home Shook and push the lead to 5-0.
Lang was dominant in the circle in the second game, tossing a complete-game shutout while allowing just three hits and striking out nine batters to improve to 5-1 on the season.
Rice led the offense with two hits and two runs scored, while Shook went 2-for-3 with a double and two RBIs. Casavant also collected two hits and drove in a run as the Eagles totaled 10 hits in the victory.
Husson closes out its participation in the Spring Games on Friday with matchups against Carroll University and No. 16 Case Western Reserve University beginning at 2 p.m.
