LEWISTON, Maine – The No. 20 ranked Husson University softball team split a non-conference doubleheader against Bates College on Tuesday afternoon at Lafayette Street Field, earning a 5-1 victory in game one before falling 10-1 in the nightcap.
Game 1: No. 20 Husson 5, Bates 1
Husson (14-1) showcased a strong all-around performance in the opener, using timely hitting and a dominant outing in the circle from junior Ana Lang to secure the win.
The Eagles wasted little time getting on the board in the first inning, as junior Camryn King tripled to right field and later scored on a sacrifice fly from senior Morgan Tainter to make it 1-0. Husson added to its lead in the second inning when senior Tayler Watterson doubled and eventually stole home as part of an aggressive baserunning sequence that pushed the advantage to 2-0.
Husson continued to build momentum in the third, as Tainter singled and senior Lydia Rice followed with an RBI double to right-center, extending the lead to 3-0. The Eagles added insurance in the sixth inning when freshman Jetta Shook doubled and later scored on an RBI single from King, before tacking on another run in the seventh. Rice reached base and came around to score on a Shook RBI single, capping the scoring at 5-1.
King led the offensive effort with three hits, including a triple, while Rice, Tainter, Watterson and Shook all recorded multi-hit performances. In the circle, Lang was outstanding, tossing a complete game while allowing just one unearned run on seven hits and striking out seven.
Game 2: Bates 10, No. 20 Husson 1 (5 Innings)
In game two, Bates (9-12) responded early and capitalized on a big second inning to take control.
After Bates scored a run in the first, Husson (14-2) threatened but was unable to break through early. The home team then plated three runs in the second inning, taking advantage of a pair of defensive miscues and timely hitting to extend its lead to 4-0.
Husson got on the board in the fourth inning when Rice delivered a solo home run to left field, cutting the deficit to 4-1. However, Bates answered immediately in the bottom half of the inning with a six-run outburst, highlighted by multiple run-scoring hits and a two-run home run, to push the game out of reach at 10-1.
The Eagles were limited to just two hits in the second game, with Rice accounting for the lone RBI. Junior Sierra Yates got the start in the circle, allowing four runs (one earned) over two innings, while junior Jazmin Johnson worked the final two innings in relief.
Husson looks to bounce back on Thursday with a ranked on ranked matchup set to take place in Waterville, as the Eagles battle No. 19 Colby College in a doubleheader beginning at 3:30 p.m.
