COBLESKILL, N.Y. – The Husson University baseball team earned a split in a North Atlantic Conference doubleheader against SUNY Cobleskill on Sunday afternoon, taking game one, 9-3, before falling in game two, 3-2.
Game 1: Husson 9, Cobleskill 3
Husson's (2-7, 1-0 NAC) offense came alive in the opener, using a pair of big innings to pull away for the victory. After falling behind 1-0 in the first to Cobleskill (2-8, 0-1 NAC), the Eagles responded in the third inning. Junior Henry Lausier reached after being hit by a pitch and later scored on an RBI single from senior Hunter Curtis to tie the game. Moments later, freshman Liam Kelley delivered a sacrifice fly to bring home senior Cam Rendell, and Curtis eventually scored on a wild pitch to give Husson a 3-1 lead.
The Eagles added to their advantage in the seventh inning, capitalizing on defensive miscues. Senior Colin Marshall and Lausier both reached to start the frame before Rendell moved them into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt. A fielder's choice off the bat of junior Matt Holmes brought home two runs, and another error allowed Curtis to score as Husson extended its lead to 6-2.
Husson put the game away in the eighth inning with three more runs. Freshman Preston Libby singled to start the inning before Lausier reached on an error and stole second. Rendell then delivered a two-run single to plate both runners, and Holmes followed with an RBI double to make it 9-3.
On the mound, sophomore Chris Lusignan earned the win, tossing 5.2 innings while allowing just two runs and striking out five. Freshman Max Hopkins and seniors Tanner Audyatis and Allen Wheaton combined to close out the final 3.1 innings in relief.
Offensively, Lausier scored three times, while Rendell drove in two runs and Holmes added a pair of RBIs. Curtis also finished with two runs scored and an RBI in the win.
Game 2: Cobleskill 3, Husson 2
In game two, Husson (2-8, 1-1 NAC) once again found itself in a tight contest but was unable to complete the sweep. After SUNY Cobleskill (3-8, 1-1 NAC) took a 1-0 lead in the first inning, the Eagles answered in the third when Marshall doubled and later scored on a sacrifice fly from Curtis to tie the game.
The hosts responded with two runs in the fourth inning, using a combination of a Husson error, aggressive baserunning and an RBI single to take a 3-1 advantage.
Husson cut into the deficit in the sixth inning as Holmes worked a walk and eventually came around to score on an RBI single from freshman John Hanlon, making it 3-2. The Eagles threatened late, putting the tying run on base in the seventh, but were unable to push across the equalizer.
Rendell led the Eagles at the plate in the second game with two hits, while Hanlon added two hits and an RBI. Marshall and Holmes each scored a run in the loss.
Junior Jacob Love took the loss on the mound in game two, allowing three runs over four innings, while sophomore Noah Hurd provided two scoreless innings of relief.
The Eagles close out their four-game set with the Fighting Tigers tomorrow with two more seven inning games beginning with game one at 11 a.m.
