WINTER HAVEN, Fla. – The Husson University softball team picked up a pair of victories on Friday at the Spring Games, rallying past Carroll University (Wis.) before closing the day with a dominant shutout win over No. 16 Case Western Reserve University.
Husson 5, Carroll (Wis.) 4:
Carroll (9-6) struck first in the opening inning with a two-run frame to take the early lead, but Husson (12-1) quickly answered in the bottom half. Junior Camryn King singled and stole second before senior Morgan Tainter delivered an RBI single to bring the Eagles within one at 2-1.
The Eagles moved in front in the second inning. Sophomore Allie Casavant walked and later stole second before freshman Liv Noyes drew a walk. With two runners aboard, King came through again, ripping a two-run double to left field to give Husson a 3-2 lead.
Husson extended its advantage in the fourth inning. Casavant doubled down the left field line and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Noyes. After senior Morgan Curtis was hit by a pitch and stole second, Tainter came through with another clutch hit, delivering a two-run single to push the Eagles ahead 5-2.
Carroll attempted a comeback late, scoring once in the fifth and again in the seventh to trim the deficit to one, but junior Ana Lang closed the door in the final inning to secure the 5-4 win.
Tainter led Husson offensively, going 3-for-3 with three RBIs, while King finished with two hits and two RBIs. Casavant added a double and scored twice.
In the circle, junior Sierra Yates earned the win after allowing three runs (one earned) over five innings, while Lang recorded the save with two innings of relief.
Husson 6, No. 16 Case Western Reserve 0:
In the nightcap, the Eagles (13-1) used a dominant pitching performance and a late offensive explosion to defeat nationally-ranked Case Western Reserve (10-4).
Husson took the lead in the second inning when senior Tayler Watterson doubled down the left field line and later scored on an RBI single from freshman Jetta Shook to give the Eagles a 1-0 advantage.
The game remained tight until the seventh inning when Husson broke things open with five runs. Watterson started the rally with a single before Casavant was hit by a pitch and Shook followed with a base hit to load the bases. King then delivered a two-run single to extend the lead to 3-0.
Freshman Sophia Lynch followed with a single to keep the rally alive before Tainter drove in another run with a base hit. Senior Lydia Rice added an RBI single, and senior Emily Dunbar capped the scoring with another run-scoring hit as Husson pushed its lead to 6-0.
Lang was outstanding in the circle, tossing a complete-game shutout while allowing just three hits and striking out 13 batters.
King finished with two RBIs, while Lynch, Tainter, Watterson and Shook each recorded multiple hits in the victory.
Husson returns to the Pine Tree State and will head to Colby College on Tuesday for a doubleheader beginning at 3 p.m.
