Husson Eagles capture 2024 NAC softball title
Bangor, Maine – The Husson Eagles capture the 2024 North Atlantic Conference Softball title after defeating SUNY Poly 4-3 in Saturday’s championship game, earning their fourth consecutive and sixth overall championship over the last seven seasons. Today’s victory extends the Eagles’ win-streak to 30, tying the longest winning-streak by any team in Husson history.
No. 20 Husson (35-4) receives the NAC automatic qualifier into the 2024 NCAA Division III Softball Championship. The Eagles will find out their first-round destination and opponent during the online selection show on NCAA.com on Monday, May 13, at 11:00am.
SUNY Poly’s 2024 season ends with an 26-10 overall record.
With a 0-0 score heading into the bottom of the second, the Eagles’ Julia Gregoire reached on a fielder’s choice. Husson then called up Lyndsee Reed to pitch run for Gregoire. With Reed on second, Kiara McLeod sent a triple to right field allowing for Reed to score and give Husson their first run of the day.
Husson was able to extend their lead by two in the fourth after an RBI single up the middle from Josie Cornell allowed Camryn King to score from second. Cornell was able to run the Eagles score up to three in the next at bat as McLeod found some green in left center, found her way to second and brought Cornell home.
The Wildcat’s found their momentum in the top of the sixth, scoring three runs off four hits to tie the game 3-3. With Ashley Reid and Alivia Turk on first and second, Kimberly Birmingham got her first hit of the day with an RBI single to right field, allowing Turk to advance to second and Reid to score. After a quick pitching change from Husson, Jadyn Childers shot a two-run RBI double to center field to bring Birmingham and Turk home.
Leading off the bottom of the sixth, the Eagles’ McLeod found herself with her second double of the game. Lydia Rice was then able to advance McLeod into scoring position off a sacrifice bunt. The Wildcats were able to squander Husson’s ability to get McLeod home off a fielder’s choice on Katie Raymond’s at bat. However, Raymond would advance to second on the throw home and after a throwing error by Poly, Raymond was able to cross home plate and earn the eventual winning-run for Eagles.
Danielle Masterson started off in the circle for the Eagles, striking out 11 Poly batters and only allowing five hits in her 5.2 innings of pitching. First-year Ana Lang would come in to relieve Masterson in the sixth inning and was able to secure Husson’s 4-3 victory after striking out three Poly batters in the seventh.
The Wildcat’s Trinity Critelli pitched all six innings, striking out eight of the 29 Husson batters she saw. Jadyn Childers was the only Poly player to record a multi-hit performance, going 2-for-3 at the plate. Childers also recorded two of the Wildcats’ three RBIs.
McLeod posted a 3-for-3 effort at the plate for Husson, along with two RBIs. Bulla McCabe, Gregoire, Cornell, and Rice accounted for the Eagles other four hits, each tallying one.
The complete NAC Softball All-Tournament team is below:
Christa Allen – UMaine-Farmington
Kimberly Birmingham – SUNY Poly
Jaydn Childers – SUNY Poly
Trinity Critelli – SUNY Poly
Ana lang – Husson University
Danielle Masterson – Husson University
Melissa Mayo – UMaine-Farmington
Kiara McLeod – Husson University
Megan Oberholzer – Thomas College
Maddie Rock – Thomas College
Most Valuable Player: Kenzie Dore Husson University