BANGOR, Maine – The Husson University baseball team held off a late rally from Thomas College to earn a 4-3 victory on Saturday afternoon in the North Atlantic Conference Championship at the Winkin Complex, allowing the Eagles to earn their seventh-straight conference title.
The Eagles improved to 24-16 on the season after using timely hitting and strong relief pitching to secure the postseason win.
Husson (24-16) struck first in the opening inning, taking advantage of a pair of Thomas (20-21) errors. Senior Colin Marshall opened the frame with a single before freshman Preston Libby was hit by a pitch. After junior Matt Holmes singled to right field, an error in the outfield allowed Marshall to score the game's first run. Freshman Liam Kelley followed with an RBI groundout to plate Libby and give the Eagles a 2-0 lead.
The Eagles added another run in the third inning when Libby doubled down the left field line and later scored on a Holmes RBI groundout to make it 3-0.
Starting pitcher junior Jacob Love kept the Terriers off the scoreboard through the first five innings, allowing just four hits while working around traffic on the bases. Thomas finally broke through in the sixth inning with four consecutive hits and a walk to tie the game at 3-3. Jeremy Spencer delivered the key hit in the inning with a two-run single up the middle.
Husson answered immediately in the bottom half of the sixth. Junior Henry Lausier drew a leadoff walk before freshman John Hanlon and sophomore Yates Emerson also worked free passes to load the bases. Marshall then produced the go-ahead run with an RBI fielder's choice, scoring Lausier for what proved to be the game-winning run.
Freshman Blake Littlefield came on in relief during the sixth inning and shut the door the rest of the way. The right-hander tossed 3.1 scoreless innings, allowing three hits while striking out four to earn the victory. Littlefield stranded a runner in scoring position in the eighth inning and retired the final two batters in the ninth to secure the win.
Marshall and Libby each recorded two hits for the Eagles, while Kelley added a pair of hits and an RBI. Holmes drove in two runs, and Lausier scored the decisive run in the sixth inning.
Following the conclusion of the game, Kelley was named tournament MVP, as the catcher went 7-12 at the plate across the three games for the Eagles, while also driving in eight runs and posting four extra-base hits.
Husson now awaits its NCAA regional site and opponents, as it will learn where it will be headed to the NCAA Division III Baseball Tournament on Monday at 12 p.m. in a selection show on the NCAA website, as regional action gets started on Friday.
