The previous school record for most triples hit in a single-game was originally set when Husson Sports Hall of Famer Chris Hunter '91 hit two triples during a game at the University of Southern Maine on April 7, 1991 and has been accomplished 15 different times by 10 different Eagle players since than including Merrill vs. Geneva on March 10, 2014. Merrill is now tied for third all-time in career triples with 14.
Game 1: Bluffton 9, Husson 2
Bluffton (3-3) got on the scoreboard first in the second inning when Brittany Huff picked up Josie McElroy on a two-run shot to right center. Makenzie Schmidt made it 4-0 when she tripled down the left field line scoring Kelsi Wilson and Abigail Blake. Bluffton capped the inning off after Molly Haberman plated Schmidt on an RBI single up the middle.
The Beavers added three in the fifth taking a 8-0 lead before Husson (1-5) scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the inning thanks to a two-run double by Kristen Chipman sending Merrill and Brianna Bires home with the runs.
Bluffton added a run in the seventh making the game 9-2.
Josie McElroy led Bluffton offensively, piling up three hits, including two doubles and a homer, along with three RBI. Haberman, Blake and Jessie Madzia each connected with two hits and they combined for three RBI.
Madzia also picked up her first win on the hill, moving to 1-1 on the season. Going all 7.0 innings, Madzia allowed only two runs off five hits and collected five whiffs on the day.
For the Eagles, Bires was 2-for-2 with a run scored and Chipman went 1-for-3 with a two-bagger and two RBI. Merrill and Casey Heath accounted for the Eagles other two hits in the setback. Starting pitcher Courtney MacIntyre allowed four hits, five earned runs and fanned a batter in 1.2 innings to pick up her second lost on the season. Alannah Healy pitched 5.1 innings in relief, allowed four earned runs on nine hits and picked up a pair of strikeouts.
Game 2: Bridgewater (Va.) 10 Husson 7
Bridgewater (3-2) took an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first against Husson when Brooke Throckmorton singled up the middle, which allowed Lindsey Talley to put the first run on the board.
Bridgewater held Husson scoreless until the top of the fourth when a RBI single from Casey Lopes evened the score and a double from Olivia Smith brought Gabrielle Bryant home for a 2-1 lead.
However, Bridgewater responded with a four-run rally in the bottom of the fourth to regain the lead when Lacey Shifflett notched a two-run double to right field and back-to-back singles from Talley and Brianna Cox drove in a couple of runs for a 5-2 advantage.
Husson added two runs in the top of fifth on a Chipman single to centerfield plating Casey Heath before Merrill tripled Chipman in with the second run cutting Bridgewater's lead to 5-4. Bridgewater produced a two-run inning in the fifth and three-run inning in the sixth to increase their lead to 10-4.
Husson then rallied to score three runs with two outs in the top of the seventh on Merrill's school record third triple of the game scoring Chipman and Alice Kennedy before scoring on a sacrifice fly to centerfield by Emily Maynard. Amber Wood ended the Husson rally with a strike out as Bridgewater won the game 10-7.
For Bridgewater, Wood (W, 1-1) finished the day with ten hits, seven earned runs, two strikeouts and two walks through seven innings of work. Talley was 3-for-3 with two runs and an RBI. Cox also posted two hits and two RBI.
For Husson, Merrill was lights out at the plate, going 3-for-3 with two runs, three RBI and three triples and Chipman went 3-for-4 with a pair of runs and a RBI. Lopes, Smith, Heath, and Kylie Kennedy accounted for the Husson's other four hits in the setback. Lopes, E. Maynard and Smith each posted a RBI. Smith took the lost after yielding five runs (three earned) on five hits while walking two over 4.1 innings.
Husson resumes play in Florida on Thursday with matchups against Carroll (Wis.) (9:00 a.m.) and Coe (11:15 p.m.).
