Husson softball edges RPI in extra innings to stay alive in NCAA tourney

The Husson University softball team pulled out a must-win walk-off victory over Rensselaer Polytechnic (34-7-1) in the NCAA Division III national tournament on Friday, beating the Engineers 2-1 in eight innings.

The Eagles (36-5) never trailed, with junior catcher Bulla McCabe opening the scoring in the first and sending the Husson faithful into hysterics in the eighth.

In the bottom of the eighth with two outs, Brewer native and two-time All-American Kenzie Dore (2-for-4) mashed a double to the fence, and McCabe (1-for-3) proceeded to drive her in on a bloop single to win it in Bangor.

“These kids know how to get it done, there’s no quit in them,” Husson head coach Rick Roberts said. “[Bulla] lives for moments like that. She comes up in clutch situations for us time and time again.”

McCabe batted in fifth-year speedster Katie Raymond in the first on a sacrifice fly to deep left field.

From the pitching circle, freshman Ana Lang of Searsport was flawless through six, but finally started looking shaky in the seventh and gave up an RBI double to senior Alex Ledger.

The 2023 Miss Maine Softball bounced back in the eighth, striking out two and inducing a pop out to set up the Husson victory. She finished with three hits allowed, one walk and 10 strikeouts, throwing 95 pitches.

“Ana came in, day one, with this sense of confidence that you can’t teach. [I’m] just continuing to cheer her on and remind her it’s her circle,” McCabe said. “It’s win or go home, the stakes are high. We’ve found a way to win, and we’re ready to win another one.”

Next up, Husson will play another elimination game versus Framingham State (25-19) at 6 p.m. at UMaine’s turf softball complex due to inclement weather. The Eagles lost to the Rams Thursday, by a score of 3-1.

“We’ve played plenty of games on turf, we’re familiar with it,” Roberts said. “No excuses one way or another, we just need to play Husson softball.”

Husson will need to win Friday night’s game to advance to the regional finals on Saturday versus Williams College (25-11).