Auburndale, FL - The Lyndon State College baseball team split a pair of games at the RussMatt Invitational Tournament on Wednesday.  In their first game of the day the Hornets dropped an 8-3 decision to Neumann University.  Lyndon rebounded, posting a 10-3 win over Hanover College in their second game of the day.  Lyndon is now 1-2 on the season while Newmann remains unbeaten at 5-0 and Hanover falls to 2-3

Lyndon's Ryan Cordiero (Rollinsford, NH) got the Hornets on the board in the top of the first against Neumann.  After delivering a one-out single, he advanced to second on a balk.  Andre Eason Jr. (Waterbury, CT) singled Cordiero to third, then Cordiero manufactured the run by stealing home.

The 1-0 lead would stand until the bottom of the sixth inning, when Neumann errupted for six runs.  After Matt McLaughlin (Somers Point, NJ) was hit by a pitch to open the inning, John Schoelkopf (Washington Township, NJ), Cody MacNair (Cinaminson, NJ), and Duncan Balara (Marlton, NJ) produced three consecutive singles to give the Knights a 2-1 lead.  Following a sacifice bunt, Dan Padilla (Bristol Borough, PA) tripled to center, driving in two more runs.  Following a single by Andrew LaRosa (Brick, NJ), Zach Ray (Voorhees, NJ) doubled in two more runs to make it 6-1 Neumann.

The Hornets scored single runs in the top of the seventh and top of the ninth, but the Knights countered by plating one run in the bottom of the seventh and eighth innings, resulting in the 8-3 final.

Kutter Endy (Pottstown, PA) picked up the win in relief for the Knights, while Tyler Davis (Groton, VT) took the loss for Lyndon.  Davis recorded seven strikeouts in six innings of work.

Lyndon again struck first in their second game of the day against Hanover.  After Ryan Thorton's (Essex, VT) one-out double, Sam Ognenoff (Brattleboro, VT) reached on an error, moving Thorton to third.  Thorton then crossed the plate when a balk was called on Hanover starter Eli Copner (Zionsville, IN).

Hanover tied things up in the top of the third when Jack Shine (New Albany, IN) tripled in John Scheil (Indianapolis, IN), who had been hit by a pitch to reach base.

Lyndon regained the lead in the bottom of the fifth when Eason hit a one-out solo home run.  The next batter, Codi Smith (Hartford, VT), tripled, then Ben Rollins (Lincolnville, ME) singled him home to make it 3-1, Hornets.

Hanover tied things up in the top of the sixth when Josh Meszaros (Loveland, OH) launched a two-run home run.  Zach Hale (St. Johnsbury, VT) drew a walk to open the bottom half of the sixth and was lifted for pinch runner Tyler Roberge (Essex, VT).  Singles from Zak Johnson (East Hampton, CT) and Cordiero then loaded the bases.  Smith then reached on an error, allwoing Roberge and Johnson to score, making it 5-3, Lyndon.

After a scoreless top half of the seventh, Lyndon put the game away with five runs in their half of the inning.  Ognenoff was hit by a pitch to start things.  After Ognenoff stole second, Johnson delivered a two-out single to drive him in.  Three consecutive hits, a single by Eason, a triple by Smith, and a single by Rollins, produced four more Hornet runs to put Lyndon on front, 10-3.

Jake Jourdain (Becket, MA) struck out eight and allowed only four hits over six innings to earn the win.  John Boulay (Dighton, MA) and Andrew Whalen (Cumberland, RI) combined for three scoreless innings in relief to preserve the victory.  Copner took the loss for the Panthers.

Lyndon continues play at the RussMatt Tournament on Thursday, when they will play a doubleheader against Grove City College.  Game one is set to begin at 11:00 am. Hanover faces the University of Mount Union on Friday.