DAVENPORT, Fla. – The Husson University baseball team dropped a pair of games to the University of Wisconsin-Superior on Monday afternoon at The RussMatt Invitational, falling 7–2 in the opener before dropping a 12–9 decision in the nightcap.
Game One: Wisconsin-Superior 7, Husson 2:
Wisconsin-Superior (4-3) scored twice in the bottom of the first inning to take an early lead. The Yellowjackets opened the game with a single and a sacrifice bunt before bringing home the first run on an RBI single. A wild pitch later in the inning allowed another runner to score, giving Wisconsin-Superior a 2–0 advantage.
Husson (0-2) responded in the third inning to even the score. Senior Keegan Cyr reached base on a throwing error and senior Cam Rendell followed with a double down the right-field line that brought Cyr home. Senior Hunter Curtis then singled up the middle to plate Rendell and tie the game at 2–2.
Wisconsin-Superior broke the tie in the fourth inning with five runs. The Yellowjackets took the lead on a two-run home run and added three more runs later in the inning on a sequence of hits that included two doubles and a single to extend the lead to 7–2.
Husson threatened in the fifth inning when Curtis singled and junior Henry Lausier doubled to put runners at second and third with two outs, but the Eagles were unable to capitalize. Wisconsin-Superior's pitching staff kept Husson off the board the rest of the way.
Curtis and Lausier each recorded two hits for the Eagles, while Rendell finished with two hits including a double and an RBI. Junior Tanner Crowley also added a hit in the contest.
Junior Jacob Love started on the mound for Husson and took the loss after allowing four runs over 3.2 innings while striking out two. Sophomore Noah Hurd came on in relief and tossed the final 2.1 innings, allowing three runs and striking out three.
Game Two: Wisconsin-Superior 12, Husson 9 (8 Innings):
The second game of the day featured plenty of offense from both teams as the two sides combined for 21 runs.
Wisconsin-Superior (5-3) scored once in the second inning before breaking the game open with four runs in the third to take a 5–0 lead. The inning featured a bases-loaded walk, a sacrifice fly and a two-run single to give the Yellowjackets early control.
Husson (0-3) answered immediately in the bottom of the third inning. Rendell drew a walk and Curtis was hit by a pitch before Lausier walked to load the bases. Junior Matt Holmes then blasted a grand slam to center field to cut the deficit to 5–4.
Wisconsin-Superior pushed its lead to 6–4 in the fourth inning with a sacrifice fly, but Husson tied the game in the fifth. Rendell walked and Curtis was hit by a pitch before Lausier advanced both runners with a sacrifice bunt. Crowley then worked an RBI walk and Holmes followed with a sacrifice fly to bring home another run and even the score at 6–6.
Wisconsin-Superior regained the lead with three runs in the sixth inning after loading the bases and delivering a two-run single along with another run-scoring walk to make it 9–6.
Husson battled back again in the bottom of the sixth. Cyr drew a walk and Curtis singled before Lausier worked another walk to load the bases. Holmes delivered once more with a double down the left-field line that cleared the bases and tied the game at 9–9.
The Yellowjackets pulled back in front in the eighth inning after loading the bases and forcing in a run with a hit batter before adding two more runs on a single to make it 12–9 at the beginning of extra-innings.
Holmes powered the Husson offense, finishing with a grand slam and a three-run double, to go along with a sacrifice fly for eight RBIs. Curtis scored three runs and added a hit, while Rendell reached base four times with a hit and three walks. Lausier also reached base three times with a hit and two walks.
Six pitchers saw action for the Eagles in the nightcap. Sophomore Chris Lusignan made the start and was followed by senior Tanner Audyatis, freshman Max Hopkins, senior Ben Phillips, junior Ryan Garner and sophomore Spencer Johnson, who suffered the loss.
Husson will return to action on Wednesday when it battles Russell Sage College at 5:15 p.m. in a nine-inning contest.
