Northeastern, ranked number 19 in the country, continued right where they left off after concluding their historic regular season, as they defeated the College of Charleston Cougars 6-0 in their first game of the CAA postseason.
The Huskies entered the playoffs with the nation’s best record at 45-9 and the nation’s longest winning streak at 24 consecutive victories. They also set a program record as six players – Cam Maldonado, Harrison Feinberg, Jack Goodman, Will Jones, Aiven Cabral, and Charlie Walker – were named to the All-CAA first team. Jordan Gottesman was named to the All-CAA second team, while Carmelo Musacchia and Brett Dunham received honorable mentions, and head coach Mike Glavine was awarded with his fifth career CAA Coach of the Year honor.
Meanwhile, the Cougars entered the contest as the No. 4 seed in the tournament, and fresh off a 12-0 thumping of William & Mary in the first round of the tournament on Wednesday.
After receiving a bye for the first round, top-seeded Northeastern turned to staff ace Will Jones for their first game of the playoffs. Jones delivered in a performance on par with his 1.99 ERA and 0.96 WHIP, as he pitched six scoreless innings while allowing just three hits on the afternoon. It was Jones’ 11th win of the season, breaking the Huskies single season program record.
After a one-two-three inning to start the game from Jones, the Huskies’ offense was quick to pounce on the Cougars in the bottom of the first. Ryan Gerety hit a leadoff single, which was followed up by back-to-back walks from Maldonado and Feinberg to load the bases with no outs.
Gerety then showed off his speed when he scored on a foul-out sacrifice fly from Goodman down the right field line. Notably, all four of the Huskies’ batters worked their at bats to a full 3-2 count.
Carmelo Musacchia then scored Maldonado on an RBI single, but wound up stranded on base alongside Feinberg as the Huskies finished the first inning with a 2-0 lead.
In the bottom of the third, Harrison Feinberg, fresh off being named the CAA Co-Player of the Year, crushed a solo home run to right center field.
In the bottom of the fifth, Carmelo Musacchia launched a solo shot of his own, his fifth homer of the season, to increase the Northeastern lead to 4-0.
After 84 pitches and six stellar innings from Will Jones, the Huskies turned to the bullpen and the dominant Charlie Walker. Just like his predecessor Jones, Walker was near perfect. He pitched the final three frames for the Huskies, allowing no runs and just one base runner, who was promptly tossed out on a double play.
In the bottom of the seventh, Matt Brinker hit the dagger, as he knocked a two-run home run high over the left field wall.
In the end, it was a very clean shutout victory for the Huskies’ pitching staff, as they allowed just four hits and only one extra-base hit, a double for catcher Dylan Johnson.
On the mound for the Cougars, however, starter Daniel Brooks was yanked after throwing 98 pitches through 3.2 innings and letting up three runs. He was followed up by Alex Lyon, who surrendered another three runs in his 2.2 innings pitched. Garrick Murray finished the game for Charleston, pitching a scoreless 1.2 innings.
The Huskies will return to action Friday at 7pm, and will play the winner of Thursday’s UNCW vs Campbell matchup. Zeno Minotti and Luke Graham will have the call for WRBB 104.9 FM.