WATERVILLE, Maine — The Husson University baseball team battled back with a four-run fifth inning, but Colby College used an early surge and late insurance to hand the Eagles a 9-4 setback on Wednesday afternoon at Coombs Field.
Colby (18-11) struck first in the opening inning, capitalizing on early baserunners before a two-run single to right field gave the Mules a 2-0 lead. Husson (11-16) starter freshman Blake Littlefield settled in over the next two frames, working out of trouble to keep the deficit at two through three innings.
The Mules broke the game open in the fourth, using a mix of patience at the plate and timely hitting to plate four runs. A run-scoring single pushed the lead to 3-0 before a Husson error extended the inning, allowing two more runs to score. A passed ball later in the frame capped the rally and gave Colby a 6-0 advantage.
Husson responded in the fifth with its best offensive stretch of the day. Sophomore Trevor Poisson reached to start the inning and junior Henry Lausier followed with a single to put two aboard. After a hit-by-pitch loaded the bases, freshman Wes Piper lifted a sacrifice fly to bring home the Eagles' first run. Sophomore Yates Emerson followed with an RBI single to cut the deficit to 6-2, and moments later, a wild pitch allowed another run to score. Senior Jack Cote capped the inning by driving in Emerson on a fielder's choice, pulling Husson within 6-4.
Colby answered immediately in the bottom half of the sixth, stringing together a pair of hits to push the lead to 7-4. The Mules then added two more runs in the seventh, using a double and a two-run single to extend the margin to 9-4.
Husson threatened in the eighth, putting two runners on with one out after a single from Piper and an error, but the rally was halted with a flyout to end the inning. The Eagles were retired in order in the ninth.
Piper, Emerson, and Lausier accounted for Husson's three hits, with Emerson and Piper each driving in a run. The Eagles showed patience at the plate, drawing five walks and being hit by five pitches, but were limited to just three hits overall.
On the mound, Littlefield took the loss after allowing two runs over three innings. Seniors Allen Wheaton and Max Lukeman provided three innings of relief, allowing five runs (two earned), while senior Keegan Cyr and sophomore Noah Hurd combined to finish the game, with Hurd tossing 1.2 scoreless innings down the stretch.
The Eagles turn their attention back to conference play this weekend, as they welcome the University of Maine at Farmington to the Winkin Complex for a four-game series, beginning with a doubleheader on Saturday set to get underway at 1 p.m.
