PHOTO CREDIT: Zak Mills (Husson)
#9 Kean Outlasts Husson in NCAA Opening Round
COURTESY OF HUSSON SPORTS INFORMATION
UNION, N.J. – The Husson University baseball team suffered a 4-2 defeat at the hands of No. 9 Kean University in its opening game of the NCAA Division III Baseball Tournament on Friday afternoon at Kean's Jim Hynes Stadium.
It was Husson (24-15) who threw the first punch in Friday's opener at the Union, New Jersey Regional, as with one out in the top of the first inning junior Cam Rendell socked an opposite field home run over the left-center field fence to give the Eagles an early 1-0 lead.
Kean (36-8) was looking to do even more damage in its first turn at the plate, as a single, a walk and a bunt down the third base line loaded the bases with no outs in the frame. Senior Connor Abood was able to send down the Kean cleanup hitter on three pitches and while a sacrifice fly knotted the contest at one, the Eagles were able to get out of the inning by playing smart defense in the field and catching a Cougar runner on the base paths.
Due to thunderstorms in the New Jersey area, a near four-hour rain delay would ensue, leading to the game restarting just before 3 p.m. local time.
Graduate student Alex Smith got the ball for the Eagles after the delay and gave Husson a fighting chance by pitching the remainder of the contest.
After two scoreless frames got play started back up, sophomore Matt Holmes broke the 1-1 tie with his 11th and single-season program record-tying home run to right field to put Husson back in front.
Kean once again had an answer for the Eagles, as following a lead-off double to begin the bottom of the fourth, two batters later a second sacrifice fly tied the game back up.
The Cougars began the bottom of the sixth in an identical way, but a single put runners on the corners with no outs in the inning. An RBI-fielder's choice gave Kean its first lead of the contest, but the Eagles were able to avoid further damage.
Kean added an insurance run in the bottom of the seventh on its third sacrifice fly of the game to extend the lead to 4-2 with just six outs remaining for Husson.
The Eagles were able to create a chance in the bottom of the ninth with two outs after sophomore Henry Lausier drew a pinch-hit walk and stole second base, but a hard line-drive from fellow sophomore and pinch-hitter Ryan Bousquet was snagged by the Kean pitcher and ended the hopes of a comeback for Husson.
Graduate student Jackson Curtis led the Eagles with two hits, while Rendell and Holmes produced the only runs and extra-base hits of the game for Husson.
Smith hurled seven innings, while needing just 78 pitches, as he allowed seven hits and two walks, but managed to keep the Eagles in the contest by allowing just three runs.
Husson will be back in action tomorrow with its season on the line, as it faces the loser of Middlebury College and No. 19 SUNY Cortland at 11 a.m.