Farmington, ME - Northern Vermont University-Lyndon built a four-run lead in Friday's North Atlantic Conference baseball game, then held off the University of Maine at Farmington for a 7-6 victory.  The win was Lyndon's first in nine outings this season, including six conference starts.  UMaine-Farmington falls to 3-9 on the season and 3-8 in NAC play

The Beavers got on the board first in the bottom of the second inning.  Andrew Hopkins led off with a double to right center field off of Hornet starter Cooper Whitehouse (South Berwick, ME), then moved to third on a wild pitch.  Ryan Sargent followed with an RBI single, scoring Hopkins.

The Hornets took the lead with a pair of runs in the top of the third inning.  Ryder Thornton (Essex, VT) started things with a double down the left field line off of UMF starter Ky Morris.  TJ Santaw (Newport, VT) then beat out a bunt single to put runners at the corners.  After Santaw stole second, Codi Smith (Hartford, VT) drove in Thornton and moved Santaw to third with a sacrifice fly.  Santaw then came home on a wild pitch, making the score 2-1, Hornets.

The lead was short lived, as UMF's Jordi Valls led off the bottom of the third inning with a home run.  However the Hornets responded in kind, as Steven Friscia (Smithtown, NY) led off the top of the fourth with a homer of his own to put Lyndon back in front, 3-2.

Lyndon extended their lead with three runs in the top of the fourth inning.  Santaw started things with a one-out base hit and Smith followed with a double to put runners at second and third.  Jordan Cane (Merrimac, MA) then delivered a two-run single to right, scoring Santaw and Smith, and chasing Morris.  Matt Brault (Milton, VT) drew a walk off of reliever Brice Springer and Friscia followed with a base hit through the left side to load the bases.  Cane came in to score when Tyler Roberge (Essex, VT) grounded into a fielder's choice to put the Hornets up 6-2.

Riley Bartell homered leading off the Beaver sixth inning to cut the Hornet lead to three runs.  However the Hornets got that run back when Smith homered leading off the top of the seventh inning.

UMF made it a one-run game in the bottom of the inning.  Two hit batters sandwiched around a base hit from Jonny Pruett loaded the bases with no outs.  Whitehouse got Ryan Simard to ground into a 6-4-3 double play, with the Hornets conceding a run in the process.  Bartell then reached on an error, keeping the inning alive and allowing Pruett to score.  Hunter LaBossiere's RBI double brought home Bartell to cut the Hornet lead to 7-6.

That would be as close as the Beavers would get, as Smith came on to throw two innings of scoreless relief to save the win for Lyndon.  Whitehouse went seven innings, striking out three without issuing a walk, to earn the win.  Morris was tagged with the loss for UMF.

The Hornets and Beavers will continue their five-game series tomorrow in Lyndonville when they square off in a doubleheader at the Skip Pound Baseball Complex.  First pitch is set for 1:00 pm.