Brunswick, ME - Husson baseball overcame a 4-0 deficit after the first two innings at Bowdoin to win 6-5 Wednesday afternoon at Pickard Field. First-year pitchers Ryan Rebar and Ben Walls toed the rubber for the Eagles and pitched well enough for a big non-conference win.
In the first two innings the Polar Bears used two hits, a ground out and an error to score four runs and take a commanding lead.
The visiting Eagles came back with two runs of their own in the third to cut the BC lead to 3-2. Dennis Meehan walked, advanced to second on a fielders choice for Kyle Bishop, moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on the same play after a throwing error by the catcher after retrieving the ball at the backstop.
Rebar managed to keep the Bowdoin hitters at bay over the next three innings before Husson batted in the top of the sixth.
Bowdoin may have second guessed pulling starter Michael Staes for Kevin McDonough. McDonough retired Brenden Holt on a ground out to start the inning, but struggled with little help from his defense. Dylan Foster singled, followed by Cody McInnis reaching on a error by the shortstop. J.T. Whitten added a single moments later pushing McInnis to second and scoring Foster. Whitten and McInnis advanced after McDonough plunked Dennis Meehan ending his afternoon after just a third of an inning.
Sam Herzig entered the one-out sixth to give up a sac fly to Kyle Bishop, scoring McInnis and advancing Whitten to third. Josh Gaudette reached and moved to second in the next at bat on an error by the center fielder. Both Whitten and Meehan scored on the Polar Bear gaffe. 6-4 Husson.
The Polar Bears added a solo run in the bottom of the ninth with two outs, but couldn't manage more than the one run on two hits, leaving two on base.
Rebar didn't earn a decision, allowing Walls to pick up the win four strong innings. Walls gave up just the one run on six hits and two strikeouts while striking out one. Rebar fanned one as well in his five innings, along with three earned, four runs and two walks on six hits.
Husson handed McDonough the loss, as Bowdoin used five different pitchers in the losing effort.
Eagle manager Jason Harvey noted: "We had two first-year pitchers throw the ball very well today. We took advantage of a few miscues by Bowdoin and capitalized. It was a very cold day to play but the guys were able to battle through it and pull out a big win. This is definitely a good start to a very busy stretch for us."
HU improves to 13-9 overall and will be back in action this Friday at home vs. UMaine Farmington at 12:00 noon and 2:30pm.