North Myrtle Beach, SC - Northern Vermont University-Lyndon pounded out 15 hits enroute to a 12-7 victory over Massachusetts Maritime Academy on Friday at the Fastpitch Dreams Spring Classic college softball tournament. With the victory, the Hornets improve to 4-1 on the season. The game was Mass Maritime's season opener.
The Hornets also played an exhibition game against Howard Community College on Friday, falling 11-3.
Game 1 - NVU-Lyndon 12, Mass Maritime 7
The Hornets wasted little time getting their offense going, as they plated three runs in the bottom of the first inning. Victoria Valentine (Lyndon, VT) drew a one-out walk, then moved to second on a throwing errror. One out later, Lauren Siciliano (Lynbrook, NY) singled up the middle, scoring Valentine with the first run of the game. Seairra Anderson (Somersworth, NJ) followed with a base hit, then Saleena Porter (St. Johnsbury, VT) delivered a two-run single to make it 3-0, Hornets.
Mass Maritime grabbed the lead with a four-run third inning. Abby Pope reached with a one-out bunt single, then stole second. Camryn Roberts-Capak then singled home Pope to get the Buccaneers on the scoreboard. After Mass Maritime loaded the bases with a walk and a fielder's choice, Rubi Butler drew another walk, forcing in a run. One out later, Carleen Harring's two-run single gave the Buccaneers a 4-3 lead.
The Hornets tied things in the bottom half of the third. Anderson singled with two outs, then Porter followed with a double, driving in Anderson.
Lyndon took control of the game in their half of the fourth inning. Emily Anderson (Levittown, NY) drew a leadoff walk, then Samantha Valentine (Lyndon, VT) reached on a fielder's choice. Amber Everett (Morrisville, VT) singled to load the bases. Victoria Valentine then singled home two runs. With two outs, Siciliano singled in a run, then Seairra Anderson doubled home another. Anderson scored when Porter reached on an error, giving the Hornets a 9-4 lead.
The Hornets pushed across another run in the bottom of the fifth inning. Samantha Valentine singled and stole second. She came around to score on Everett's base hit.
Mass Maritime looked to get back in the game in the top half of the sixth inning. Three straight singles from Emma Ruginski, Harring, and Kylie Deasy produced a run. Then with two outs, Roberts-Capak singled, driving in another run, and a Hornet error allowed a third run to score. The Buccaneers had trimmed the Hornet lead to 10-7.
Lyndon got two runs back in the bottom half of the sixth. Seairra Anderson led off with a double down the left field line, her fourth hit in four at bats. Porter followed with a double of her own, picking up her fourth RBI of the game as Anderson scored for the fourth time. Emily Anderson then singled home Porter with what would prove to be the final run of the game.
Victoria Valentine kept Mass Maritime off the scoreboard in the top of the seventh to close out her complete game victory. She struck out 11 while walking only two and allowing seven hits and six earned runs. Malarie Pittsley went the distance and took the loss for Mass Maritime.
Game 2 (Exhibition) - Howard CC 11, NVU-Lyndon 3
Howard scored 11 runs on only three hits in defeating the Hornets. The Dragons took advantage of 18 walks issued by Hornet pitching. Katelyn Burdette paced Howard with a triple, three runs batted in, and three runs scored. Claudia Knapp (Howell, NJ) had a pair of hits for the Hornets.
Lyndon returns to action on Saturday with two more games at the North Myrtle Beach Sports Complex. The Hornets will take on Vermont rival Castleton University at 10:00 am, then face NAIA Shawnee State University at noon.
