The Husson University softball team pulled out a must-win walk-off victory over Rensselaer Polytechnic 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.
McCabe batted in fifth-year speedster Katie Raymond in the first on a deep sacrifice fly.
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 to set up the Husson victory. She finished with three hits allowed, one walk and 10 strikeouts, throwing 95 pitches.
Next up, Husson will play another elimination game versus Framingham St. at 6 p.m. at UMaine’s softball complex due to inclement weather.
