BANGOR – Clutch hits came hard Sunday for Husson College, but Jason Folsom finally came up with a big one.

The junior from Millinocket grounded a two-out single to left field in the top of the 12th inning as the top-seeded Braves outlasted the University of Maine-Farmington 4-2 to advance to today’s championship round of the Sunrise Conference tournament at the Winkin Baseball Complex.

However, Thomas College of Waterville, the No. 2 seed, has the upper hand after beating No. 3 UMF 8-5 Saturday and edging Husson 4-2 in Sunday’s winners’ bracket contest.

Coach Greg King’s 17-17 Terriers can claim the league title with a victory in today’s noon game. A win by the 22-16 Braves in that one would force a finale at approximately 2:30 p.m.

“The confidence is a little higher when you know you’re still undefeated,” said Thomas’ Scott Brawn. “We’ve just got to keep the same mentality. We can’t ease up.”

Husson had advanced with a 14-3 shellacking of No. 4 Lyndon State (12-16) in Saturday’s opener. UMF (12-16) ousted Lyndon State 8-6 on Sunday.

In Sunday’s late game, the Braves played errorless defense and received some gutsy pitching performances.

Husson stranded nine runners through 11 innings and struggled with runners in scoring position before mounting the winning rally in the 12th.

With one out, reliever Ray Doubleday walked Jason Harvey. Josh Ferguson singled up the middle, then stole second, before Folsom broke the 2-2 tie.

“I just squeaked one through. It wasn’t a hard-hit ball,” said Folsom, who was playing on a sprained ankle.

Ferguson came on in the bottom of the inning. He walked James Writer, but then induced two fly balls, including a game-ending 8-3 double play.

“We both played very well under pressure, made key plays when we needed to and, eventually, our team made key hits when we had to,” said Ferguson, who went 4-for-6. “We just stayed focused, stayed calm and after awhile things just worked out for us.”

Freshman lefthander Jeremy York of Skowhegan worked 8 1/3 innings, scattering seven hits and two runs, for Husson. Travis Tripp of Bar Harbor (2-1) pitched 2 2/3 scoreless innings in his second outing of the day.

They outdueled Doubleday and starter John Rutkiewicz, who spread out 10 hits in nine innings and struck out seven.

UMF threatened to win it in the 11th after two were out when Tripp hit Dave Sharland and Cooper Willard with pitches. Keith LeBlanc lined a single to left, but Tony Laprino gunned out Sharland at the plate to end the inning.

“Everybody’s on the brink of elimination, so they’re going to do everything they can to stay in it and play the next day,” said Husson coach John Kolasinski.

Craig Harvey doubled and hit an RBI single in the first for the Braves, who turned four double plays. Jason Harvey’s two hits included a game-tying RBI single in the seventh.

Tom Ventura paced the Beavers with an RBI double and two singles, while LeBlanc rapped three singles.

In Sunday’s winners’ bracket contest, the Terriers put themselves in the driver’s seat by holding off Husson.

Freshman Ryan Ruhlman spread out 11 hits over seven innings and was the beneficiary of three double plays before Jevon Owens and Chris Carman combined for two innings of one-hit relief.

“I’m more of a control pitcher, so I rely on ground balls,” Ruhlman said. “I’m not going to overpower anybody.”

Thomas scored once in the first and added four in the second against Mike Cowperthwaite, who had two-hit the Terriers six days earlier.

Sean Brawn’s sacrifice fly in the first gave Thomas the lead for good, then Scott Brawn’s two-run single and an RBI single by Sean Brawn in the second helped break it open early.

“We’ve had a tendency to get a lead and then let them get it right back,” Scott Brawn said. “Today we got runners on and the difference was we didn’t leave them hanging out there.”

The Braves threatened often, but the double plays held them at bay. Husson stranded nine runners.

Scott Brawn finished with a double, two singles and three RBIs while Sean Brawn had a double, single and two RBIs.

Folsom led Husson with three singles and an RBI, while Craig Harvey stroked an RBI triple and a single. Justin Spencer singled twice (1 RBI).

In Sunday’s early game, the Beavers stayed alive behind a gritty performance from junior Jeff Casavant of Biddeford (3-4) who scattered seven hits and fanned eight over 8 1/3 innings before Doubleday got the last two outs.

Lyndon State did little to support lefthander Jared Carlson, who pitched a six-hitter and struck out nine. The Hornets committed five errors, including four during a disastrous, six-run third inning.

Ventura’s two-run single with one out was UMF’s only hit in the inning.

Ventura singled twice for the Beavers, while Zach Reed hit an RBI single in the seventh.

In Saturday’s opener, Craig Harvey (7-1) spread out seven hits and helped his own cause with three hits and four RBIs as Husson cruised past LSC in a game halted after 61/2 innings by the 10-run rule.

Harvey had outstanding command, striking out eight without walking a batter. He was the beneficiary of a 20-hit onslaught by the Braves. His own efforts included a two-run single in a three-run third inning and a two-run triple during a five-run fourth.

Billy Kane’s 4-for-5 effort that included a run-scoring triple, an RBI single and a two-run double. Tony Creek cracked two doubles and a single with two RBIs, while Folsom and Laprino stroked two RBI singles.

In Saturday’s second game, Sean Brawn knocked in five runs with two home runs and a double as Thomas prevailed. He clouted a three-run blast in the fifth and hit a solo shot in the seventh.

Chris Tetreault gave up seven hits and five runs over eight innings, striking out three, to keep UMF at bay. The Terriers tallied runs in six innings en route to an 8-2 lead.

Jordan Stebbins singled twice with an RBI for Thomas.

BRAVES 14, HORNETS 3

(Saturday’s First Game)

Lyndon State Husson

Player AB R H BI Player AB R H BI

Durso, 2b 4 3 3 0 J. Harvey, ss 5 1 0

Casey, rf 1 0 0 0 Ferguson, 3b 5 1 0

Lazorchak, rf 3 0 0 0 Folsom, c 3 2

Nutting, lf 3 0 2 2 a-McInnis 0 3 0

Rose, cf 3 0 1 1 C. Harvey, dh 4 0 4

Merrill, ss 3 0 0 0 b-Brideau 0 4 0

Lawrence, c 3 0 0 0 Kane, rf 5 3 3

Marsh, 1b 2 0 0 0 Laprino, lf 5 0 2

Putnam, 3b 3 0 1 0 Creek, 1b 4 0 2

Ryan, dh 3 0 0 0 Spencer, cf 3 0 0

Henderson, 2b 4 2 2 0

Totals 28 3 7 3 Totals 38 14 20 13

Lyndon State 101 010 0 ? 3

Husson 335 300 x ? 14

a-ran for Folsom in the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th; b-ran for C. Harvey in the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th

E?Merrill; Ferguson; LOB?Lyndon State 6, Husson 10; 2B?Rose; J. Harvey, Ferguson, Kane, Creek; 3B?Duruso, Nutting; Kane, C. Harvey; DP?Putnam-Durso-Marsh; SF?Nutting

Lyndon State IP H R ER BB SO

Perrotte (L) 2 1/3 14 10 8 1 0

Ryan 3 2/3 6 4 3 1 1

Husson IP H R ER BB SO

C. Harvey (W) 7 7 3 3 0 8

HBP?Marsh; Folsom, Spencer; WP?Perrotte 2; BK?Ryan; C. Harvey

TERRIERS 8, BEAVERS 5

(Saturday’s Second Game)

UM-Farmington Thomas

Player AB R H BI Player AB R H BI

Armitage, 3b 5 0 0 0 Bonenfant, 2b 4 2 0

LeBlanc, 2b 5 0 1 1 O’Connor, rf 4 1 0

Writer, cf 4 1 0 0 Sc. Brawn, c 3 0 1

Ventura, c 3 1 2 2 Adams, pr 0 1 0

Jellison, pr 0 1 0 0 Se. Brawn, 1b 4 2 5

Reed, dh 2 0 0 0 Haynes, dh 4 1 0

Kemp, pr 0 0 0 0 Perrin, 1b 0 0 0

Rutkiewicz, rf 4 0 1 0 McDonald, 3b 4 0

Quimby, 1b 4 0 1 0 Porter, lf 3 0 0

Cummings, lf 2 0 0 0 Stebbins, cf 4 0 1

Casavant, lf 1 0 0 0 Pelletier, ss 3 0 1

Dominick, pr 0 0 0 0

Smith, lf 0 1 0 0

Sharland, ss 4 1 2 1

Totals 34 5 7 4 Totals 33 8 9 8

UM-Farmington 001 100 021 ? 5

Thomas 101 230 10x ? 8

E?LeBlanc, Quimby, Sharland; Se. Brawn, Tetreault; LOB?UM-Farmington 7, Thomas 3; 2B?LeBlanc, Sharland; Bonenfant, Sc. Brawn, Se. Brawn; HR?Ventura; Se. Brawn; DP?Thomas; SF?Brawn; SH?Porter

UM-Farmington IP H R ER BB SO

Reed (L) 7 9 8 5 0 5

Doubleday 1 0 0 0 0 0

Thomas IP H R ER BB SO

Tetreault (W) 8 7 5 4 3 7

Se. Brawn 1 0 0 0 0 0

HBP?Reed; BK?Reed; ATT?105 (est.)

BEAVERS 8, HORNETS 6

(Sunday’s First Game)

Lyndon State (12-16) UM-Farmington

Player AB R H BI Player AB R H BI

Durso, 2b 5 1 2 2 LeBlanc, 2b 4 1 0

Lazorchak, rf 5 1 0 1 Sharland, ss 4 1

Nutting, lf 5 0 1 0 Writer, cf 5 2 1

Rose, cf 3 1 1 1 Ventura, c 4 1 2

Merrill, ss 3 1 0 0 a-Kemp 0 0 0 0

Lawrence, c 4 0 0 0 Rutkiewicz, rf 2 0 1

Marsh, 1b 4 0 1 0 Reed, lf 4 1 1

Underwood,1b 0 1 0 0 Smith, dh 3 1 0

Putnam, 3b 3 0 1 2 Fay 1 0 1 1

Ryan, dh 4 1 1 0 Quimby, 1b 3 0 0

Willard, 3b 3 1 1 0

Totals 36 6 7 6 Totals 33 8 6 7

Lyndon State 100 200 003 ? 6

UM-Farmington 006 000 20x ? 8

a-ran for Ventura in the 5th

E?Rose, Merrill, Carlson, Marsh 2; LeBlanc, Quimby; LOB?Lyndon State 6, UM-Farmington 7; 2B?Durso; Fay; 3B?Durso; HR?Putnam; Sharland; SB?Lazorchak, Rose 4, Merrill; LeBlanc, Willard;SF?Rutkiewicz; SH?Rutkiewicz, Quimby

Lyndon State IP H R ER BB SO

Carlson (L) 8 6 8 0 2 9

UM-Farmington IP H R ER BB SO

Casavant (W) 8 1/3 7 6 5 2 8

Doubleday (S) 2/3 0 0 0 0 0

TERRIERS 6, BRAVES 4

(Sunday’s Second Game)

Thomas (17-17) Husson

Player AB R H BI Player AB R H BI

Bonenfant, 2b 4 2 2 1 J. Harvey, ss 5 1

O’Connor, rf 5 0 2 0 Ferguson, 3b 4 0 0

Sc. Brawn, dh 5 0 3 3 Folsom, c 5 1

Se. Brawn, 1b 4 0 2 2 a-McInnis 0 0

Haynes, c 5 0 0 0 Brideau, pr 0 0 0

Adams, lf 0 0 0 0 C. Harvey, 1b 5 0 1

McDonald, 3b 3 0 1 0 Kane, rf 4 1 0

Porter, lf 3 1 0 0 Laprino, lf 4 0 0

Stebbins, cf 4 1 1 0 Mathieu, dh 2 0 0

Pelletier, ss 4 2 2 0 Spencer, cf 4 1

Henderson, 2b 4 0 2 0

Totals 37 6 13 6 Totals 37 4 12 4

Thomas 140 001 000 ? 6

Husson 000 100 300 ? 4

a-ran for Folsom in the 1st, 7th; ran for Mathieu in the 8th

E?Pelletier; LOB?Thomas 8, Husson 9; 2B?Sc. Brawn, Se. Brawn; Ferguson, Kane, Laprino; 3B?C. Harvey; DP?Sc. Brawn (una.), Bonenfant-Pelletier-Se. Brawn, Pelletier-Bonenfant-Se. Brawn; J. Harvey-Henderson-C. Harvey; SF?Se. Brawn;

Thomas IP H R ER BB SO

Rulman (W) 7 11 4 4 2 0

Owens 1 2/3 0 0 0 0 0

Carman (S) 1/3 1 0 0 0 0

Husson IP H R ER BB SO

Cowperthwaite (L) 5 1/3 11 6 6 3 3

Tripp 3 2/3 2 0 0 0 3

BRAVES 4, BEAVERS 2

(Sunday’s Third Game, 12 innings)

Husson (22-16) UM-Farmington (12-16)

Player AB R H BI Player AB R H BI

J. Harvey, ss 5 1 2 1 Armitage, 3b 5 0

Ferguson, 3b 6 2 4 0 e-Willard 0 0 0

Folsom, c 5 0 2 2 LeBlanc, 2b 5 1 0

C. Harvey, 1b 6 0 2 1 Writer, cf 4 0

Kane, rf 6 0 1 0 Ventura, c 5 0 1

Laprino, lf 5 1 2 0 a-Kemp 0 0 0 0

Creek, dh/3b 4 0 1 0 Reed, lf 6 0 0

Spencer, cf 5 0 0 0 Fay, dh 2 1 0 0

Henderson, 2b 4 0 0 0 c-Jellison 0 0

b-Estes 1 0 0 0 Casavant, dh 1 0 0

d-McInnis 0 0 0 0 Quimby, 1b 1 0 0

Cummings, rf 3 0 1 1

Sharland, ss 4 0 0 0

Totals 47 4 14 4 Totals 36 2 7 2

a-ran for Ventura in the 5th, 8th, 10th; ran for Sharland in the 11th; b-struck out for Henderson in the 7th; c-ran for Fay in the 9th; d-ran for Folsom in the 10th, 11th; e-hit by pitch for Armitage in the 11th

Husson 100 000 100 002 ? 4

UM-Farmington 110 000 000 000 ? 2

E?Spencer; Armitage, Sharland; LOB?Husson 11, UM-Farmington 12; 2B?Laprino; Ventura; DP?York-J. Harvey-C. Harvey, Henderson-J. Harvey-C. Harvey, J. Harvey-Henderson-C. Harvey, Spencer-C. Harvey; LeBlanc-Sharland-Quimby; SH?Folsom, Creek; Quimby; SB?J. Harvey, Ferguson 3

Husson IP H R ER BB SO

York 8 1/3 6 2 1 4 2

Tripp (W) 2 2/3 0 0 0 2 3

Ferguson (S) 1 0 0 0 1 0

UM-Farmington IP H R ER BB SO

Rutkiewicz 9 10 2 1 1 7

Doubleday (L) 3 4 2 2 1 1

HBP?Willard, Writer; PB?Folsom; ATT?200 (est.)