Nashua, NH - The Northern Vermont University-Lyndon baseball team began this weekend's four game North Atlantic Conference series with the University of Maine at Farmington by splitting a doubleheader Friday afternoon.  UMaine-Farnington took the opener, 8-4, then the Hornets bounced back for a 5-3 win in the nightcap. The Hornets are the host team for the series, which is being played at Harvey Woods Field in Nashua, NH.  The Hornets finish the day 8-17 overall and 3-3 in the NAC, while the Beavers sit at 9-11 overall and 6-4 in conference.

Game 1 - UMaine-Farmington 8, NVU-Lyndon 4

After Hornet starter Jake Jourdain (Becket, MA) retired the Beavers in order in the top of the first inning, Lyndon took the lead in the bottom half.  Ben Rollins (Lincolnville, RI) reached on an error leading off.  Ryder Thornton (Essex, VT) sacrificed Rollins to third.  Rollins then came in to score on Zak Johnson's (East Hampton, CT) ground out.

UMF took advantage of two Hornet errors to push across four unearned runs in the top of the second.  With one out, Justin Rodrigue reached on an error and Hunter LaBossiere followed with a base hit to center.  Ryan Pratt then singled and a throwing error allowed Rodrigue to score.  Zach Hartsgrove drove in another when he grounded out.  Back to back doubles from Ryan Simard and Jake Bessey capped the rally.

The Hornets got two runs back in the bottom of the third.  Rollins reached on an error to start things and Thornton followed by drawing a walk.  The runners advanced one base on Johnson's long fly ball.  Jason Doris (Lincoln, RI) then delivered a single to left, scoring both runners and bringing the Hornets within 4-3.

In the top of the fifth the Beavers loaded the bases on three straight singles from Chase Malloy, Derek Bowen, and Kevin Carter.  With two outs, Malloy stole home to make the score 5-3, UMF.

The Hornets got that run back in the bottom of the fifth.  Thornton walked leading off.  Johnson followed with a double to left center, moving Thornton to third.  Doris grounded out, scoring Thornton.

The Beavers created some breathing room with three more runs in the top of the sixth.  :Pratt reached on an error leading off.  Hartsgrove then singled.  Simard's bunt attempt popped over a charging Hornet infield, loading the bases.  Bessey drew a walk scoring one run, then two more came home on ground outs.

Rodrigue relieved Beaver starter Cole Lockhart in the bottom of the sixth and kept the Hornets at bay with four hitless innings to earn the save andsecure the win for UMF.  Lockhart earned the win, allowing two earned runs and striking out four over the first five innings.  Jourdain took the loss, striking out six over seven innings.  Only two of the eight runs that were charged to him were earned.

Game 2 - NVU-Lyndon 5, UMaine-Farmington 3

The Beavers struck first in the nightcap.  Rodrigue reached on an eror leading off the second inning.  LaBossiere then singled, and both runners moved up a base on a wild pitch.  Rodrigue came in with the first run of the game when Danny Terhune grounded out to short.

Doris led off the Lyndon fourth with a double off of Beaver starter Brice Springer.  Caleb Laroche (Franklin, VT) moved Doris to third on a base hit to right.  After Laroche stole second, Tucker Root (Middlefield, CT) came through with a clutch two stike base hit, scoring both runners and giving the Hornets the lead.  After Noah Barton's (South Burlington, VT) singled, Rollins rapped a base hit back up the middle to score Root and make the score 3-1, Lyndon.

Base hits from Johnson and Laroche in the bottom of the fifth chased Springer.  Root again came through, delivering a two-out single to right off of reliever Patrick Fallon to score Johnson.  Barton followed with an RBI single, extending the Lyndon lead to 5-1.

Hornet starter James Mundy (Brentwood, NH) kept UMF in check over the first five innings, allowing only a single unearned run.  In the Beaver sixth, however, a pair of walks sandwiched around a hit batter loaded the bases.  Pinch hitter Joshua Xanders drew another walk, forcing in one run.  John Boulay (Dighton, MA) relieved Mundy and nearly got out of the bases loaded jam without another run scoring.  However, after retiring two batters, a pitch got away, allowing another run to score.  Boulay then struck out Malloy to put out the fire.  He then retired the Beavers in teh seventh to end the game.

Mundy picked up the win, allowing two earned runs on seven hits, striking out seven.  Boulay picked up his frst save of the season.  Springer took the loss, yielding eight hits and striking out two.

The Hornets and Beavers will play two more games in Nashua on Saturday.  First pitch for game one is set for 1:00 pm.