North Myrtle Beach, SC - The Northern Vermont University-Lyndon softball team closed out play in the Fastpitch Dreams Spring Classic with a convincing 17-3 victory over Massachusetts Maritime Academy.  The teams were scheduled to play a doubleheader, but game two was called due to rain in the first inning and will not be rescheduled.  With the win the Hornets head back up north with a 5-3 record.  The five wins are already more than any Lyndon softball team has achieved since 2015.  Mass Maritime falls to 1-4 on the season.

The Buccaneers broke on top in the top of the first inning.  Abby Pope reached on a bunt single leading off and later came around to score on an error following Carleen Harring's base hit.  The Hornets got the run back in the bottom of the inning when Amber Everett (Morrisville, VT) singled leading off and later scored on Lauren Siciliano's (Lynbrook, NY) sacrifice fly.

Mass Maritime again took the lead in the top of the second inning.  Emma Ruginski singled and moved to second on an error.  She scored on Sicily DiDomenico's base hit.  However, Lyndon again responded in the bottom of the inning.  Blake Southworth (Bethel, VT) singled leading off, moved to third on Emily Anderson's (Levittown, NY) double, and scored on a passed ball.

Malarie Pittsley doubled with two out in the Buccaneer third, then scored on Ruginski's base hit, again giving Mass Maritime a one-run lead at 3-2.

In the bottom of the third the Hornets got their bats going in earnest.  Claudia Knapp (Howell, NJ) got things started with a double to center.  Siciliano then singled back up the middle, tying things at 3-3.  Back to back singles from Seairra Anderson (Somersworth, NH) and Saleena Porter (St. Johnsbury, VT) brought Siciliano home and gave Lyndon its first lead.  Southworth singled to load the bases, then after a fielder's choice, Samantha Valentine (Lyndon, VT) delivered a two-run single.  Everett then reached on an error to load the bases again.  Next, Victoria Valentine (Lyndon, VT) singled home two runs and Knapp doubled in two more.  When the inning ended, the Hornets found themselves with a 10-3 lead.

After Mass Maritime failed to score in the top of the fourth inning, Lyndon put the game out of reach with seven more runs in the bottom half of the inning.  Porter and Southworth singled to start the inning.  One out later, Samantha Valentine reached on a fielder's choice to load the bases.  Everett then singled to drive in two runs and Victoria Valentine followed with another RBI single.  Knapp reached on an error to load the bases and Siciliano singled down the right field line to drive in two more runs.  Seairra Anderson singled to again load the bases and Southworth singled to drive in two more runs, extending the Hornet lead to 17-3.

Victoria Valentine kept the Buccaneers off the scoreboard in the fifth inning to close out the complete game victory.  She allowed two earned runs and eight hits, while striking out three.  Pittsley also went the distance and took the loss.

Lyndon is now off for four weeks, until March 27th.  On that day they are scheduled to travel to Rivier University for a 1:00 pm non-conference doubleheader.