DAVENPORT, Fla. – The Husson University baseball team jumped out to an early lead, but Wheaton College (Mass.) rallied with a big third inning and pulled away late to defeat the Eagles, 10–4, on Friday afternoon at the RussMatt Invitational.
Husson (1-5) struck first in the bottom of the opening inning with the help of a pair of Wheaton errors. Senior Hunter Curtis reached base on a miscue before junior Henry Lausier delivered a ground-rule double to right field to put runners on second and third. Junior Matt Holmes followed with a single through the right side that brought home both runners. Later in the inning, junior Tanner Crowley doubled to left field and Holmes eventually came around to score on a throwing error, giving the Eagles a 3-0 lead.
Wheaton (6-1) responded in the second inning, scoring twice to cut the deficit to 3-2. The Lyons used a sacrifice fly and took advantage of a Husson error to bring the game within a run.
The Eagles answered in the bottom half of the inning when senior Colin Marshall singled and stole second before senior Keegan Cyr moved him along with a fly out. Senior Cam Rendell then delivered an RBI single to center field, extending Husson's advantage to 4-2.
Wheaton seized control in the third inning. After placing runners on base early in the frame, the Lyons scored three runs to take their first lead of the afternoon. An RBI groundout tied the game before a run-scoring single pushed Wheaton ahead 5-4.
From there, the Lyons continued to add insurance. A wild pitch allowed a run to score in the sixth inning, and Wheaton plated two more in the seventh on a run-scoring single. The visitors tacked on another run in the eighth and one more in the ninth to secure the 10-4 victory.
Holmes led the Husson offense with a hit and two RBIs, while Lausier and Crowley each doubled. Rendell added an RBI single and Marshall contributed a hit and a run scored.
On the mound, sophomore Avery Lawrence took the loss after allowing five runs (two earned) over three innings. Sophomore Chris Lusignan worked two scoreless innings in relief with three strikeouts. Seniors Ben Phillips and Tanner Audyatis, sophomore Spencer Johnson, freshman Blake Littlefield and junior Jack Lano also appeared on the mound for the Eagles.
Husson will return to New England and be back in action on Mar. 21 when it heads to Massachusetts to battle the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.
