The Husson University baseball team came into Gorham last Tuesday and sprayed nine hits while taking advantage of four USM errors, as they chalked up 12 runs to rout the Huskies 12-1 in a non-conference match-up at the USM Baseball Stadium.
Husson freshman Shawn Smith led the Eagles at the plate as he hit a two-run home run in the fifth, an RBI single in the seventh and an RBI triple in the ninth for four RBI and two runs scored. Sophomores, infielder Cody Haverly-Johndro and outfielder Kyle Vanidestine had two hits apiece in the game.
The Huskies continued their trend of getting on the board early as they scored one run in the bottom of the first inning off an RBI single by junior outfielder Mike Eaton (Sabattus) that scored sophomore Roberto Valenti (Lawrence, Mass.). Valenti led off the inning by reaching on an error by Husson third baseman Jake Arthers.
USM senior starting pitcher Mark Schmidt (Gorham) shutdown the Eagles through the first and second innings before they got on the board with a run of their own in third when Haverly-Johndro and Vanidestine hit back-to-back singles to centerfield, and junior shortstop Ethan Guerette hit a sacrifice fly to right field that scored Haverly-Johndro to tie the score at one.
From the third inning on, Husson sophomore starting pitcher Nate Adams gave up only three hits in his 6.2 innings of work before handing the duties over to senior Chris Morris and junior Kyle Leeman, who combined to pitch hitless ball through the remaining 2.1 innings for the Eagles.
Husson responded again in the fourth and took to the lead for good with two runs on two hits. After walking junior first baseman Chris Maguire and junior outfielder Tom Crews, Schmidt was replaced by sophomore reliever Dustin Stanton (Cornish). Stanton then gave up a single to Arthers that loaded the bases, and sophomore catcher Kevin Rennick reached on a fielder’s choice on a groundball to third and a throwing error by the USM third basemen that scored Arthers and Maguire.
Two runs on two more hits in the fifth provided Husson with insurance runs and a comfortable advantage, giving them a 5-1 lead. A single by Vanidestine set up the stage for Smith’s first career home run, a two-run shot that hit off the scoreboard in left. The Eagles would score two more runs in the seventh as USM junior reliever Grey Goodrich walked Haverly-Johndro, and gave up a single to Guerette, which resulted in Smith’s RBI single off USM junior Nick Hahn (Guilford, Conn.) who replaced Goodrich earlier in the inning. With Smith at first and Guerette at third, the two perfectly executed a double steal that scored Guerette and increased the Husson lead to six.
Husson scored one run in the eighth, and four more in the ninth off one hit and three errors to increase the lead to 12-1 and secure their 18th win of the season.
USM had their chances, but struggled to string hits together and get that big inning they needed to make a comeback.
“This was really the first game that we’ve played poorly overall and really just nothing was clicking for us,” senior Collin Henry (Penobscot) said. “Husson played a lot better than what we saw from them in the last couple years. They were aggressive and their pitching was solid, and it just wasn’t our day.”
Adams was credited with the win as he pitched 6 2/3 solid innings giving up four hits, four walks and one run while striking out two, improving his season record to 5-2. Schmidt (1-2) took the loss as he gave up two hits, three walks, three runs, and struck out two before giving up the ball to Stanton, Goodrich, Hahn, and senior Andrew DeBethune (St. Albans) and Eaton who pitched the eighth and ninth.
Henry led the Huskies at the plate as he went 2-4 with a double and a single. Sophomore first baseman Greg Holmes (West Newbury, Mass.) went 1-3 with a double.
The Huskies have an important week ahead as they take the field again on Wednesday at home against Babson at 3:30 p.m., at home against Wheaton on Friday at 4 p.m., at Keene State for an LEC doubleheader on Saturday at noon, and at home against UMass Boston for an LEC Sunday afternoon match-up starting at 1 p.m.