FARMINGTON, Maine – Husson University got a pair of strong pitching performances from Sky Johnson and Ana Lang on Saturday afternoon, sweeping the University of Maine at Farmington in a North Atlantic Conference (NAC) doubleheader at Prescott Field. Saturday's contests marked the end of the regular season, and the Beavers will now await final seeding to determine their first-round playoff matchup.
Records
Farmington finished the regular season 14-16 overall with a 4-4 record in NAC play. Husson improved to 24-10 overall with a perfect 8-0 mark in conference play.
Game One – Husson 7, UMF 0
Husson struck quickly in the top of the first. Camryn King led off with an infield single and promptly stole second base, putting a runner in scoring position with nobody out. After advancing to third on a groundout, King came in to score as Bulla McCabe reached on an error, giving Husson a 1-0 lead after the top half of the inning.
The Eagles broke the game open in the third, pushing across four runs on three hits, two walks, and a hit-by-pitch. Tatyanna Biamby delivered a two-run double, and McCabe added a two-RBI single to make it 5-0.
After the four-run third, Mack Bergen (Winnipeg, Manitoba) settled in, keeping the Eagles off the board in the fourth and fifth innings before giving way to Lisa Truchin (Torrance, Calif.), who pitched the sixth and seventh. McCabe and Julia Gregoire delivered back-to-back RBI doubles in the sixth to extend the lead to 7-0 and seal the Game One victory.
Farmington's bats were quiet against Husson starter Sky Johnson. The graduate student held the Beavers to just two hits and one walk while striking out nine to earn her 12th win of the season.
Olivia Paradis (Saco, Maine) and Jojo Daigneault (Canton, Conn.) recorded the two hits for the Beavers, both singles.
Game Two – Husson 6, UMF 1
Game Two was a pitcher's duel through the first five innings. After being held scoreless through the first eight innings of the day, the Beavers got on the board in the bottom of the second. Christa Allen (Harrison, Maine) ripped a one-out double to the gap in left-center and scored on a clutch two-out single from Paradis.
Sophomore starting pitcher Melissa Mayo (Bridgton, Maine) was sharp, keeping the Eagles off the scoreboard for the first five innings. She allowed just two hits and one walk as the Beavers held onto a 1-0 lead heading into the sixth.
Things began to unravel for Mayo in the sixth. King led off with a double, stole third, and scored on a wild pitch to tie the game. After a walk, a single, and another walk loaded the bases, Truchin came in to relieve Mayo with one out. The first batter Truchin faced, Kiara McLeod, singled to left, scoring two and giving Husson its first lead of the game. Truchin then recorded a pop-out and groundout to prevent further damage.
After the Beavers went down in order in the bottom of the sixth, Husson added three insurance runs in the seventh. Biamby and Gregoire each delivered RBI singles, and McCabe added an RBI double to make it 6-1.
Gregoire led the Eagles offensively with three hits, including a triple. Ana Lang went the distance for Husson, scattering six hits and striking out ten to earn the win.
Daigneault went 2-for-3 to lead Farmington at the plate. Mayo, Allen, Katie Morse (Dixfield, Maine), and Paradis also recorded hits. Mayo was charged with the loss, allowing three earned runs on four hits over 5.1 innings.
