Husson takes on Castleton

BANGOR ? The Husson College baseball team has dug itself a hole.

The four-team North Atlantic Conference double-elimination tournament has become a single-elimination affair for Husson and its Thursday losers’ bracket opponent, Castleton State (Vt.), when the tourney resumes at 10 a.m. at Ward Field at St. Joseph’s College in Standish.

Becker (Mass.) beat Husson 6-5, thanks to two ninth inning runs and St. Joseph’s nipped Castleton State 3-2 in the opening round last Friday before rain pushed the tourney back to Thursday.

The game between Husson, 23-16, and Castleton State, 18-22, will be followed by a 2 p.m. winners bracket game between 30-9 St. Joseph’s and 23-15 Becker. The Husson-Castleton State winner and St. Joseph’s-Becker loser will square off at 6 p.m.

Friday’s championship round will begin at 10 a.m.

“Our backs are against the wall. On the other hand, we have pitching experience. We have five starting pitchers who are ready to pitch,” said Husson coach John Winkin.

“The teams are so even in this tournament, anything can happen,” said Husson senior left fielder Aaron Brideau. “It’s just a matter of doing it.”

Junior righthander Travis Tripp from Bar Harbor will pitch against Castleton State and said he isn’t worried about the fact he hasn’t pitched in over 10 days.

“My arm will be fresher,” said Tripp who has a team-high six wins against two losses and has a 4.15 earned-run average. “I’m just going to try to throw strikes and hit my spots.”