LYNDON CENTER, Vt. – The Lyndon State College baseball team split its home opener with New England College Tuesday afternoon at Skip Pound Field with the Pilgrims picking up game one 4-1 and the Hornets taking game two 8-2.

Game 1

Things looked good for the Hornets at the start as they picked up a run in the bottom of the first inning after Trevor Markey (Ocoee, Fla.) singled down the left field line to bring in Ryan Cordeiro (Rollinsford, N.H.) from second base.

Both teams went scoreless over the next two innings but the Pilgrims struck for two runs in the top of the fourth.  Vincent Backert hit a 2-RBI single to plate Conor Crouse and Luis Atiles for the 2-1 lead.

After holding the Hornets in the bottom of the fourth, the Pilgrims came back with two more runs in the fifth, capitalizing on defensive misplays.  Jeam Castillo scored on a throwing error and then Jameson Carey hit a sacrifice fly to center in the next at-bat to bring home Manuel Alejandro for the 4-1 lead.

The Hornets were able to get a runner in scoring position in the fifth and seventh innings but were unable to convert, dropping the opener 4-1.

Tyler Davis (Williamstown, Vt.) took the loss on the mound for the Hornets throwing five innings and giving up two earned runs on four hits while striking out four.  Neil Robinson (Stoddard, N.H.) and Dennis Farnham (Orono, Maine) each pitched an inning of scoreless relief.

Castillo (1-1) picked up the win for the Pilgrims in six innings of work, allowing four hits and one earned run while striking out five.  Jameson Carey picked up his first save of the season pitching a scoreless seventh inning.

Game 2

After a quiet two innings, the Hornets exploded for four runs in the bottom of the third inning.  With Codi Smith (Hartford, Vt.) on third base, Zak Johnson (East Hampton, Conn.) laid down a bunt.  The pilgrims attempted to get Smith at home but were too late, putting the Hornets up 1-0.  After back to back singles, the bases were loaded as Andre Eason Jr. (Waterbury, Conn.) approached the plate.  Eason Jr. grounded a ball to short.  The Pilgrims attempted to turn a double play but after getting the out at second threw the ball by first base allowing Devon Rollins (Winooski, Vt.) to score from second after Johnson scored from third.  Eason Jr. stole second before David Laroche (Franklin, Vt.) reached first on a throwing error by the short stop, allowing Eason Jr. to advance home for the 4-0 lead.  The Hornets tried to tack on a fifth run after a single to left field but a solid throw home by Conor Crouse beat the runner for the third out of the inning.

Starting pitcher Davis Guyer (Lyndon, Vt.) seemed to be cruising through the top of the fourth inning after two outs but Evan Delaney smashed a ball deep over the center field fence to get the Pilgrims on the board and cut the deficit to 4-1.

However, Lyndon answered with three more runs in the bottom half of the inning.  Ben Rollins opened the inning with a single before Smith smashed his fourth triple of the year to the gap in right center to plate Rollins.  Two batters later, Smith was awarded home on a balk while Jake Perkins (Hartford, Vt.), who had reached on an error, advanced to third.  Johnson then lifted a ball to center field to score Perkins with the sacrifice fly, increasing the lead to 7-1.

Each team tacked on a run in the sixth inning before Neil Robinson retired the side in order in the top of the seventh to seal the victory.

Guyer earned his first win of the season pitching five innings for the Hornets, allowing just two hits and an earned run.  Jake Jourdain (Becket, Mass.) surrendered his first earned run of the season in one inning of relief.

Esdras Rojas suffered the loss for the Pilgrims in four innings of work while giving up six hits and seven runs (four earned).

The Hornets (13-7, 6-2 NAC) are right back on Skip Pound Field Wednesday at 2:00 p.m. for a doubleheader with Colby-Sawyer.

The Pilgrims (13-15, 6-8 NAC) host Castleton on Wednesday for a doubleheader starting at 2:00 p.m.