BANGOR, Maine - After splitting the first two games of the NAC Championship, Husson defeated SUNY Cobleskill in the game-three rubber match at Harold Alfond Diamond. With the 14-6 win, the Eagles earn an automatic bid to the NCAA national championship tournament for the first time in ten years.

Cobleskill started game three with the hot bats with which they ended game two. Jayson Maxwell smashed a two-out double to deep left field, then scored on a base hit ripped up the middle by Frank Leger. 

Husson responded in the home-half of the opening inning when Akira Warren reached first after being hit by a pitch. He moved to third on a sac bunt followed by a fielding error that landed Kobe Rogerson safe at first. David LeBlanc pushed Warren across the plate with an RBI single. Chris Ewanik struck out, then Brandon Smith was hit by a pitch, loading the bases for Ethan Stoddard. Stoddard reached first, but Rogerson was out at home on the fielder's choice play. Jackson Curtis then cleared the bases with a gapper to center-right field. The inning ended with the Eagles leading 4-1.

In the third inning, Maxwell nailed a triple down the right field line with his second two-out hit of the game. He was left on base when Leger flied out to left.

Chris Kordziel notched a single in the top of the fourth, then stole second on a ball to Connor Mann. Kordziel moved to third on a sacrifice grounder, then scored on an RBI single from Leger, closing the gap to 4-2. 

Leblanc walked to open the fourth, then stole second. Stoddard notched an RBI single when LeBlanc scored on a base hit turned into two bases with a Tigers' fielding error. Stoddard scored on a stand up double by Curtis, which ended the game for Cobleskill starting pitcher Stephen Tejada. Tejada went 4.2 innings, gave up four earned runs and tallied five strikeouts.

Connor Maxwell entered the game for the Tigers, and gave up an RBI single to Tyler Parke. Nick Swift dropped one into right field, pushing Parke to third. Warren was then hit by a pitch for the third time in the game, loading the bases. Rogerson crushed a ball down the middle, scoring two and ending the game for C. Maxwell. LeBlanc popped out to end the fourth inning with Husson ahead, 9-2.

Lendrum struck out his sixth batter to start the sixth inning. Leger and River Sisson then both reached with bunts, and then scored on a three-run homerun from Eddy Garcia. Snyder hit one to left-center, which ended the effort for Lendrum. The Husson starter left the game with a 9-5 lead after 6.1 innings. Lendrum gave up nine hits, four earned runs, and struck out six.

Chris Naylor took the mound for the Eagles, and Kordziel moved Matthew Snyder to second base. Tejada drove one down the left field line for an RBI double. Nick Leavy entered the game to pitch for the Tigers, and a slow dribbler to first from Nick Thomas ended the half-inning with the Tigers closing in, 9-6.

Nick Leavey returned to the mound and notched two quick outs before walking Stoddard. Curtis hit his third double of the afternoon and drove Stoddard across home. The sixth inning ended with Husson leading Cobleskill, 10-6.

Jesse Colford took the mound for the Eagles to start the seventh inning. He registered two quick outs before hitting Sisson with a pitch. Garcia tapped a base hit through short before Colford got out of trouble.

Leavey earned a quick out to start the bottom of the seventh. Then Warren singled and advanced to second on a passed ball. Rogerson drove him in with a single, then advanced to second on an errant throw. Leavey exited the mound to make way for the fourth Cobleskill pitcher of the game, Shane Ladden, who ended the inning without further damage and Husson leading, 11-6.

Colford registered three quick outs in the eighth inning, bringing the Eagles back to bat for the bottom of the eighth. Smith led off with a single, then Stoddard reached on an error. Curtis hit his fourth double of the game, driving in RBIs six and seven and setting a program record for most doubles in a single game. The previous record stood since 1962.

Swift was then hit by a pitch, bringing Manielvic Diplan to the mound for Cobleskill with two runners on base and one out. Swift reached on a fielder's choice when Jackson was tagged out. Rogerson singled to left and Swift scored on the play. LeBlanc walked to load the bases for Ewanik, but Diplan escaped without further damage. 

Husson entered the top of the ninth with a 14-9 lead, and Cobleskill wasn't able to rally.

With the NAC Championship win, Husson awaits their draw in the NCAA national championship tournament, which will be announced on Monday on ncaa.com.

All-Tournament Team

Jackson Curtis, Husson - MVP
Cam Graham, Husson
Akira Warren, Husson
Kobe Rogerson, Husson
Jayson Maxwell, SUNY Cobleskill
Chris Kordziel, SUNY Cobleskill
Devin Lewis, SUNY Cobleskill
Jake Montrose, SUNY Poly
Kyle Lidde, SUNY Poly
Kyle Gleason, Thomas
Ryan Scepansky, Thomas