Six-run third key as Colby routs Husson Mules’ Whelan, 2 relievers allow Eagles 1 unearned run

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BANGOR – The Colby College Mules were anxious to rebound from a doubleheader baseball loss to archrival Bowdoin College.

And they did just that on Tuesday against the Husson College Eagles.

The Mules parlayed four hits, two walks and an error into six third-inning runs and three pitchers combined on a seven-hitter as the Mules beat Husson 11-1 at the John Winkin Baseball Complex.

“It’s good to start the week with a win,” said Colby sophomore catcher Mike Cuqua, who had a pair of hits, drove in two runs and scored twice.

“Everybody [in the lineup], one through nine, hit the ball today,” said freshman center fielder John Lerner, whose double keyed the third-inning rally.

Nine players had at least one RBI for Colby (9-4) and eight of the starters had at least a hit.

With Colby trailing 1-0 entering the third, Spencer Jacobson started the rally by reaching third when Husson right fielder Jeff Miller dropped his fly ball as he ran toward the foul line.

Nick Spillane pulled a ground ball single down the first base line off losing pitcher Andrew Patterson to tie it.

Lerner then pulled a 2-1 pitch to right-center for a double that sent Spillane to third.

“It was a fastball from the middle in, and I got a pretty good swing on it,” said Lerner.

John LaMantia and Colin Riggs followed with RBI singles and, following a walk, Cuqua delivered another run with a fielder’s choice.

Chris Murdock’s run-scoring single and Jacobson’s run-producing fielder’s choice capped the rally.

“I didn’t hit my spots very well in the third, and when I did put the ball in the strike zone, they hit it,” said Patterson.

“They definitely got the hits at the right time. You’ve got to tip your hat to them,” said Husson coach Jason Harvey.

Junior righthander Bobby Whelan pitched five innings of six-hit, one-run (unearned) ball to pick up the win. He walked one and struck out one.

He got nine groundouts.

“I tried to keep my sinking fastball down and away from the hitters and let my defense do the work,” said Whelan, who threw 49 strikes among his 77 pitches.

Junior righty Zach Helm of Palermo tossed three innings of one-hit ball and David Bethoney pitched a scoreless ninth.

“Their pitchers threw strikes and we couldn’t string any hits together,” said Husson junior catcher and co-captain Nick Arthers, who reached on an error in the second and scored on Chris Maguire’s double.

Husson (6-12) loaded the bases with nobody out, but Whelan worked out of it by inducing two grounders, including one back to the mound that produced an inning-ending 1-2-3 double play.

Husson went 1-for-7 with men in scoring position.

Craig Cooper had a two-run double for the Mules.

Miller had three singles for Husson.

Husson pitchers issued eight walks and hit two batters while Colby’s pitchers walked only two and didn’t hit anybody.

MULES 11, EAGLES 1

Colby (9-4) Husson (6-12)

Player AB R H BI Player AB R H BI

Lerner, cf 3 1 1 0 Guerette, ss 5 0 0

Kaufman, rf 1 1 0 0 Arsenault, lf 4 0 0

LaMantia, 2b 4 2 1 1 Miller, rf 4 0 0

Murphy, 2b 1 0 0 0 Arthers, c 3 1 0

Riggs, dh 3 3 1 1 Crews, cf 4 0 0

Starr, dh 1 0 1 1 Maguire, 3b 4 0 1

Conlon, 1b 2 0 1 1 Candage, 1b 3 0 0

Cuqua, c 3 2 2 2 Cushing, 2b 2 0 0

Curatolo, c 1 0 0 0 Shannon, 2b 2 0 0

Cooper, ss 4 0 1 2 York, dh 2 0 0

Newton, lf 0 0 0 0 Graham, dh 2 0 0

Murdock, lf-cf 4 0 1 1

Jacobson, 3b 5 1 0 1

Spillane, rf 4 1 1 1

Totals 36 11 10 11 Totals 35 1 7 1

Colby 006 103 100 – 11

Husson 010 000 000 – 1

E-LaMantia, Jacobson; Guerette 2, Miller; LOB-Colby 9, Husson 9; 2B-Lerner, Cooper; Maguire; DP-Whelan-Cuqua-Conlon; Cushing-Candage; SF-Conlon; SB-Kaufman

Colby IP H R ER BB SO

Whelan (W, 1-0) 5 6 1 0 1 1

Helm 3 1 0 0 1 0

Bethoney 1 0 0 0 0 1

Husson IP H R ER BB SO

Patterson (L, 1-3) 3 6 6 5 4 3

Morris 2 2/3 3 4 1 2 1

Sullivan 2 1/3 1 1 1 2 1

Beatham 1 0 0 0 0 1

HBP-LaMantia (by Morris), Newton (by Beatham); WP-Morris 2; T-2:40; ATT-75 (est.)