BANGOR, Maine – The Husson University baseball team broke open a tight game with a five-run seventh inning and went on to an 11-4 victory over SUNY Cobleskill in winner's bracket action of the North Atlantic Conference tournament on Thursday morning at the Winkin Complex.
Husson (23-16) struck first in the bottom of the opening inning after senior Colin Marshall reached on a walk and later came around to score following a SUNY Cobleskill error. Freshman Liam Kelley then delivered a two-run double to left center to plate Marshall and Holmes for a 2-0 advantage.
SUNY Cobleskill (20-20) answered in the fourth inning when Tony Woodie and Logan Firment produced back-to-back RBI hits to even the score at 2-2. The Eagles responded immediately in the bottom half as freshman John Hanlon singled and later scored on an RBI single from Marshall to reclaim a 3-2 lead.
The Fighting Tigers tied the game again in the sixth inning after Ryan Lansing scored on a throwing error, but Husson regained the lead in the bottom of the frame. Junior Henry Lausier doubled to start the inning and eventually scored on a sacrifice fly from Marshall to make it 4-3.
SUNY Cobleskill tied the contest for the third time in the seventh inning on a sacrifice bunt RBI from Jake Brazzano, but the Eagles answered with their biggest inning of the day in the bottom half. Senior Cam Rendell was hit by a pitch and Holmes followed with a single before Kelley launched a three-run homer to left field to give Husson a 7-4 lead. Senior Hunter Curtis followed immediately with a solo home run to extend the advantage to 8-4. Later in the inning, Lausier stole third and scored on a sacrifice fly from sophomore Yates Emerson to cap the five-run frame and push the lead to 9-4.
The Eagles added two more runs in the eighth inning when Kelley ripped an RBI double to left center before Lausier added an RBI double of his own to make it 11-4.
Junior Matt Holmes finished 4-for-5 with three runs scored, while Kelley went 3-for-5 with a double, home run and six RBIs. Lausier added two doubles, two runs scored and an RBI, while Marshall drove in two runs. Curtis also homered and added two runs scored.
Sophomore Chris Lusignan started on the mound for Husson and allowed three runs, two earned, over six innings with two strikeouts. Sophomore Noah Hurd earned the win in relief after tossing the final three innings, allowing one run while striking out one.
The Eagles will look to bring home a seventh-consecutive NAC championship tomorrow afternoon when they battle #3 Thomas College at 1 p.m. Husson will need to win just one game to capture the conference crown, while the Terriers will need to defeat the Eagles twice to win the title.
