Husson Edges Out Southern Maine 3-1 (8 innings)

Recap, photo courtesy of University of Southern Maine

GORHAM, Maine –  Tied at 1-1 in the top of the eighth inning with the international tie-breaker in effect, the Husson University Eagles used a sacrifice bunt, an RBI sacrifice fly and an RBI double to left field from junior Olivia Smith (Calais, Maine) to defeat the University of Southern Maine Huskies 3-1 at the USM Softball Stadium Tuesday afternoon in a non-conference game.  Originally scheduled as a doubleheader, the second game was called due to inclement weather and unplayable field conditions.

            The loss is the second straight for Southern Maine who is now 7-10 on the season.  Husson improves to 6-7 with the win.  Southern Maine leads the series record 24-18, but Husson has won the last two straight over the Huskies.

            Smith had two of Husson's RBIs in the game, putting her team up 1-0 in the top of the fourth with a shot to second base for a base hit.  The ball was knocked down, but sophomore Briana Brochu was to score on the two-out single after reaching safely on a lead off single and advancing two bases on a sacrifice bunt and a ground out. 

            The Huskies tied the game up in the home half of the inning on an RBI double down the left field line from junior Brooke Cross (Saco, Maine/Thornton Academy).  The Huskies' also used a two-out RBI to score its run.  Senior Taylor Lux (Arundel, Maine/Thornton Academy) led off the inning with a single through the left side, and took second on a sacrifice bunt, before being cut down on an fielder's choice ground out from Courtney Davis (Woburn, Mass.).  Davis was able to leg out three bases on Cross' third double and team-leading 15th RBI of the season.

            Both teams were held scoreless through regulation. The Huskies had a chance for a go-ahead run in the bottom of the sixth with a lead off double from senior Amber Kelly (Berwick, Maine/Noble), but were unable to bring her around to score. Husson also had a solid scoring opportunity in the top of the seventh with a lead off single from sophomore Morgan Coleman (Acton, Maine/Sanford) but could not produce a run. 

            However in the top of the eighth, the Eagles manufactured two runs, including an RBI fly-out to left field from sophomore Chloe Gorey (Scarborough, Maine), and Smith's double. 

            Kelly took the loss for the Huskies allowing three runs (two earned) in eight innings.  She allowed seven hits and a walk with four strikeouts, and is 4-4 on the season.  Sophomore Jen Jones (Acton, Maine) earned the win, pitching eight full and allowing one earned run on four hits and two walks.  Jones struck out six in the win to improve to 4-3.