READING, Mass. – The Husson University baseball team dropped a pair of tightly contested games to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology on Saturday afternoon, falling 4-1 in the opener before a 4-3 setback in game two at Austin Prep.
MIT 4, Husson 1:
In game one, Husson (1-6) was limited to just three hits despite a solid outing from its pitching staff. MIT (2-9) struck first with a run in the opening inning and added another in the second to take an early 2-0 lead.
The Eagles broke through in the fourth inning when senior Cam Rendell launched a solo home run to right center, cutting the deficit to 2-1. However, MIT answered with a run in the bottom of the inning and added another in the fifth to extend the lead back to three. Husson was unable to generate further offense, as MIT pitching combined for 10 strikeouts in the 4-1 final.
Rendell led the offense with his home run and lone RBI, while sophomore Trevor Poisson and senior Colin Marshall each added a hit. On the mound, sophomore Avery Lawrence took the loss after allowing three runs (two earned) over four innings, while senior Tanner Audyatis and freshman Max Hopkins combined to allow just one run over the final two innings in relief.
MIT 4, Husson 3:
Game two saw Husson (1-7) put together a stronger offensive performance, collecting seven hits and drawing seven walks, but the Eagles were unable to hold onto an early lead.
Husson opened the scoring in the third inning when freshman Preston Libby delivered an RBI double to plate Marshall. Sophomore Yates Emerson followed with an RBI single to give the Eagles a 1-0 advantage. In the fourth inning, junior Henry Lausier extended the lead to 2-0 with a solo home run to left field.
MIT (3-9) responded in the bottom of the fourth with three runs to take a 3-2 lead, capitalizing on timely hitting and aggressive baserunning. The Engineers added another run in the fifth on a sacrifice fly to make it 4-2.
Husson answered in the sixth inning when Marshall delivered an RBI double to score junior Matt Holmes and trim the deficit to 4-3. The Eagles threatened to tie the game later in the inning, loading the bases, but a double play ended the rally.
Lausier led the offense in game two, going 2-for-3 with a home run, RBI and a walk, while Marshall finished 2-for-3 with two RBIs. Libby added a double, an RBI and a run scored, and Emerson drove in a run in the loss.
On the mound, sophomore Chris Lusignan tossed two scoreless innings with three strikeouts to start the game, while junior Jacob Love allowed three runs in relief. Sophomore Noah Hurd was tagged with the loss, surrendering one run over two innings, and senior Ben Phillips added a scoreless inning out of the bullpen.
Husson will open North Atlantic Conference play next weekend with a four-game series against SUNY Cobleskill starting on Saturday with a doubleheader scheduled to begin at 12 p.m.
