MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. — In a season in which the No. 19 Northeastern Huskies have already broken a program record in wins, set their longest ever winning streak, won the Beanpot, and captured the CAA regular season crown, the team finished off an undefeated CAA tournament to claim their second ever conference championship trophy.
“You can’t measure what we do with a radar gun and a stopwatch,” said Northeastern head coach Mike Glavine. “You have to feel it. You have to be here, you have to experience the energy they play with.”
Northeastern found themselves facing the UNCW Seahawks for the second consecutive game as UNCW defeated the College of Charleston 6-5 to reach the championship round.
In the first meeting between the two, Northeastern mercy ruled UNCW in an 11-1 thrashing thanks to seven runs in the bottom of the eighth inning.
Today, the Huskies turned to starter Aiven Cabral on the mound. UNCW’s Aubrey Smith took the mound for his side in what was just his second start of the season.
After a scoreless first inning from both sides, Northeastern fell behind for the first time all tournament in the top of the second. The action started with a leadoff double for Bryan Arendt and a walk from Aidan Evans. Shortstop Kevin Jones then launched a three run home run on a curveball down the chute from Cabral, giving the Seahawks an early, commanding 3-0 lead.
Neither side could score in the third inning. In the bottom of the fourth, Harrison Feinberg got his side on the board with a solo shot to left.
In the top of the fifth, with two outs and a runner on first, Northeastern turned to the bullpen and Jack Bowery. On just the second pitch that Bowery threw, first baseman Tanner Thach rocked a two-run home run to left-center field to extend the Seahawks lead to 5-1.
On the day, Cabral finished with 4.2 innings pitched, allowing four earned runs and five hits while recording four strikeouts.
In the bottom of the sixth, with Cam Maldonado on second base, Feinberg knocked his second homer of the day – and fourth in the three tournament games – to once again cut into the UNCW lead.
“Feinberg was otherworldly,” said Glavine. “He just brings it every day, incredibly hard worker, hard player, and the moment’s never too big for him.”
Just like they did in the fifth, the Seahawks would respond in the top of the seventh. That response came from Tanner Thach, who himself hit his second home run of the evening.
In the bottom of the eighth inning with Northeastern trailing 6-3, the Huskies finally forced Aubrey Smith out of the ballgame. Smith entered the contest with his season high in innings pitched in a game at 4.1, yet smashed that mark with seven innings pitched in the game.
After Smith was yanked thanks to back-to-back base hits from Jack Doyle and Ryan Gerety to start the inning, Northeastern pounced on reliever Cooper Kane. Kane plunked the first batter he faced, Maldonado, to load the bases with nobody out. Then, Harrison Feinberg worked his magic yet again.
Feinberg cranked a bases clearing double into the gap, tying the ballgame, and igniting the Huskies dugout and crowd. Kane was then replaced by Arendt, who removed his catcher’s gear to take over on the mound for his team. After Jack Goodman reached on an error, Carmelo Musacchia doubled to left-center, scoring both base runners and giving Northeastern their first lead of the day.
Musacchia then advanced on a balk before Matt Brinker drove him home with a sacrifice fly.
“We thought we were close,” Glavine said. “We felt like the later the game went and the closer it stayed, that we had an advantage.”
The Huskies went into the ninth up 9-6, and brought in Brett Dunham to close out the game. Dunham allowed one single, but struck out two, including the championship-sealing strikeout of Trevor Lucas.
“You get emotional, because you think of all the work that goes into it, from the first opening team meeting to this moment right here,” said Glavine. “Nothing comes easy for our team. They have to work for everything and to see them celebrate and to win this and win it the way they did, just to see their enjoyment for each other, I can’t say enough about that.”
For the Huskies, it was their 27th consecutive victory.
“They love baseball. They love each other, and they work really hard and they care and it’s just a blessing to be able to coach them,” Glavine said.
Northeastern will learn where they will play for the NCAA Regionals during Monday’s college baseball selection show. WRBB will have full coverage of the tournament.
Zeno Minotti is an undergraduate student at Northeastern University studying Communications, Psychology, and Sociology. He is a writer and broadcaster for Northeastern hockey and baseball. Read all of his articles here and follow him on X here.