BANGOR, Maine -- The Bates baseball team grabbed a 3-1 lead but the Husson University Eagles tallied two runs in the eighth and one more in the ninth to defeat the Bobcats 4-3 Tuesday afternoon. 

With the score tied at three in the bottom of the ninth, and the bases loaded with two outs, Husson's Matt Holmes got hit by a pitch to clinch the win for the hosts.

The Bobcats (11-13) scored all three of their runs in the third inning. With Bates trailing 1-0, senior Noah Ackerman (Armonk, N.Y.) and senior captain Jack Brennan (West Hartford, Conn.) drew back-to-back walks to start the frame. First-year Keagan Ryan (Salem, N.H.) followed with a single to left, loading the bases. One out later, first-year Henry Prince (McLean, Va.) singled up the middle to score Ackerman and Brennan, giving the Bobcats a 2-1 lead.

Junior Ben Genser (Newton, Mass.) followed with a single of his own, scoring Ryan for a 3-1 Bates edge. 

But the Bobcats did not score again as the Eagles (12-9) successfully used eight different pitchers to hold Bates to three runs on five hits.

Senior starting pitcher Corbin McAlpine (Boxborough, Mass.) was solid on the mound for Bates, going four innings and allowing just one run on five hits, leaving the game with a 3-1 lead.

The score stayed that way until the bottom of the eighth as first-year Kenny Carlisle (South Portland, Maine) pitched well out of the bullpen. However, he walked the first two batters of the eighth inning, and both runners eventually scored on a single and a fielder's choice, tying the game at three. Carlisle struck out six batters and did not allow a hit in his three innings pitched.

A single and two walks (one intentional) loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the ninth. The Bobcats were able to force a runner at home before the hit-by-pitch ended the game. Holmes (1-0) had pitched a scoreless top of the ninth inning so the Husson utility man picked up the win as well as the game-winning RBI.

Genser led the way on offense for Bates, going 2-4 with an RBI. All 12 combined hits between the Eagles and Bobcats were singles. Jackson Curtis paced Husson, going 2-5 with two RBIs. 

The Bobcats are back in action Wednesday when they pick up their suspended game with Bowdoin in the bottom of the third inning and Bates up 3-0. First pitch is set for 3 pm.