LITTLE FALLS, N.J. — The Husson University baseball team's season came to an end on Saturday morning as the Eagles fell to Whitworth University, 15-10, in an elimination game at the NCAA Division III Baseball Championship Regional at Yogi Berra Stadium.
Whitworth (29-15) took an early 2-0 lead in the second inning before adding four more runs in the third to build a 6-0 advantage.
Husson (24-18) responded with a six-run fourth inning to even the score at 6-6. Senior Colin Marshall started the rally with a single before senior Cam Rendell drove in the Eagles' first run with an RBI single through the right side. Freshman Liam Kelley followed with an RBI single to center before junior Ryan Bousquet added another run-scoring hit. Senior Keegan Cyr capped the inning with a three-run double to left center to tie the game.
The Pirates answered with four runs in the bottom of the fifth to regain the lead at 10-6. Husson cut the deficit to two in the sixth inning after a Whitworth throwing error allowed two unearned runs to score, making it a 10-8 game.
Whitworth added one run in the sixth and four more in the seventh inning to extend its lead to 15-8.
The Eagles continued to battle in the ninth as junior Matt Holmes connected on a solo home run to right center and junior Henry Lausier added an RBI single, but Husson could not get any closer.
Holmes paced the Husson offense, going 2-for-5 with a home run, two runs scored and one RBI. Cyr finished with three RBIs, while Rendell, Kelley, Lausier and Bousquet each drove in a run. Marshall reached base three times with a hit and two walks.
Sophomore Chris Lusignan made the start on the mound for the Eagles. Freshman Blake Littlefield suffered the loss in relief.
Husson concludes its season at 24-18, making its sixth-consecutive NCAA tournament appearance.
