Lyndonville, VT - With a North Atlantic Conference playoff berth on the line, Northern Vermont University-Lyndon looked to stage a late rally in the nightcap of Sunday's doubleheader against Thomas College. The rally came up just short, as the Hornets fell, 10-8, giving the Terriers a sweep of the twin bill.
Lyndon and Thomas finish tied for second place at 11-8 in the NAC East Division. However the Terriors win the tiebreaker based on winning three of five games in this weekend's series, and will advance to the division championship series against Husson University next weekend. Lyndon finishes the season at 11-11 overall, while Thomas improves to 12-10 on the season
Game 1 - Thomas 13, NVU-Lyndon 2
Thomas used the long ball to take the opener. Jacob Lacroix and Shane MacNeill led off the top of the second inning with back to back base hits. Bradly Smith then walked to load the bases. Lucas Harmon reached on a fielder's choice, with Smith beating the throw to second and Lacroix scorign the game's first run. With the bases still loaded, Kyle Gleason hit a grand slam home run over the right field fence. The next two Thomas batters were hit by pitches, then Aaron Young delivered a three-run blast. When the damage was done the guests had an 8-0 lead.
Thomas added a single run in the top of the fourth inning, then in the fifth Young homered for the second time. This time it was a two-run shot, extending the Thomas lead to 11-0.
Meanwhile the Hornets had trouble getting much going at the plate against Thomas starter Dylan Copeland. Lyndon remained scoreless until Codi Smith (Hartford, VT) homered to lead off the sixth inning and get the Hornets on the board.
Thomas added a pair of insurance runs in their half of the seventh inning. The Hornets were then able to put a run on the board in their final at bat. Matt Brault (Milton, VT) walked leading off. He moved to third on Ryder Thornton's (Essex, VT) double, then scored on Aiven Malanoski's (Oneonta, NY) ground out.
Young was the hitting star for Thomas, going four for five, including the two home runs, with six runs batted in and three runs scored. Sean Cavanaugh (Londonderry, NH) had a pair of hits for Lyndon.
Copeland went six innings, allowing four hits while striking out five to pick up the win. Hornet starter Cameron Flinn (Barre, VT) took the loss.
Game 2 - Thomas 10, NVU-Lyndon 8
Thomas again used a big second inning to jump in front in the nightcap. With one out the Terriers loaded the bases following two walks and a hit batsman. Harmon then delivered a two-run double to give Thomas the lead. After Gleason was intentionally walked to load the bases, Ryan Kappleman's base hit to right plated two more runs. After Devin Grindle singled to load the bases again, Young's base hit drove in two more runs to make it 6-0, Thomas through one and a half innings.
The Hornets got back in the game in their half of the third inning. Sam Ognenoff (Brattleboro, VT) started the rally with a base hit. After Thornton drew a walk and Codi Smith was hit by a pitch, the bases were loaded for Jordan Cane (Merrimac, MA). Cane came trhough with a bases clearing double down the left field line. After Tyler Roberge (Essex, VT) singled to put runners at the corners, Cavanaugh doubled off the right center field wall to score Cane and Roberge and cut the Thomas lead to 6-5.
Thomas promptly regained some breathing room in the top of the fourth inning. With one out, Lacroix walked, then MacNeill reached on an error. Bradly Smith doubled, scoring Lacroix. Harmon then barely beat out a two-out infield hit, scoring McNeill, and Gleason followed with a two-run double, building the Thomas lead back to 10-5.
The Hornets couldn't cut into the lead in the fourth, fifth, or sixth innings against Thomas reliever Ryan Scepansky. Down to their final three outs in the home half of the seventh, Lyndon mounted one more rally. TJ Santaw (Newport, VT) beat out an infield hit to start the inning. Codi Smith followed with a home run over the center field wall, his second of the day and seventh of the season, trimming the Thomas lead to 10-7. Cane was up next and walked. Game one starter Copeland then relieved Scepansky and, following a wild pitch that moved Cane to second, got Roberge to line out. Cavanaugh's base hit then brought the tying run to the plate with one out. When Matt Brault (Milton, VT) hit into a fielder's choice, Cane scored, making it 10-8. However, Copeland got Parker Perron (Barton, VT) to hit into a fielder's choice to end the game.
Scepansky picked up the win with three plus innings of work in relief of Thomas starter Daniel May. Copeland earned the save. Hornet starter Cooper Whitehouse (South Berwick, ME) was tagged with the loss.
Between games of Sunday's doubleheader, the Hornets recognized their five seniors, Flinn, Ognenoff, Roberge, Smith, and Thornton, for their contributions to the Lyndon baseball program.
