Lyndonville, VT - After playing their first 16 games on the road, the Northern Vermont University-Lyndon softball team finally took to the field at the Skip Pound Softball Complex on Friday afternoon. The home field proved to be to the Hornets liking, as they swept visiting Northern Vermont University-Johnson, taking a 5-3 North Atlantic Conference victory in the opener, before picking up a 7-3 win in the nightcap. Lyndon evens their record at 9-9 on the season and improves to 3-2 in NAC play. Johnson falls to 1-22 overall and remains winless in five NAC outings.
Game 1 - NVU-Lyndon 5, NVU-Johnson 3
The Badgers jumped in front early, pushing across two runs in the top of the first inning. Ella Embry beat out an infield hit leading off, then Evelyn Brubaker was hit by a pitch. After both runners moved up on a wild pitch, Embry came in to score on Aaliyah Jones' ground out. Sabrina Colon then laced a two-out double to right, scoring Brubaker and making it 2-0, Badgers.
The Hornets wasted no time responding, as they promptly tied things up in the home half of the first inning. Amber Everett (Morrisville, VT) started things with a leadoff single. After Everett stole second, Seairra Anderson's (Somersworth, NH) one-out double scored Everett. Saleena Porter (St. Johnsbury, VT) then delivered a two-out base hit to score Anderson and tie the game.
After an uneventful second inning, Johnson regained the lead in the top of the third. Back to back base hits from Brubaker and Mariah Muskin got the inning started. Then with one out, Colon's base hit to right scored Brubaker to put the Badgers back in front.
Lyndon again responded in the home half. After Anderson drew a one-out walk, Claudia Knapp (Howell, NJ) followed with an RBI double to left field, tying the game at 3-3.
Johnson got two runners on in the top of the fourth inning, but Hornet pitcher Victoria Valentine (Lyndon, VT) pitched her way out of the jam without yielding a run. Then in the bottom half of the inning, Riann Fortin (Derby, VT) beat out an infield hit leading off. After moving to second on a ground out, Fortin scored on Everett's two-out base hit, giving the Hornets their first lead of the game.
The Hornets added an insurance run in the bottom of the fifth inning. Knapp walked leading off, then moved to third on Porter's base hit. Porter then broke for second and was caught stealing, but Knapp came home on the throw.
That was all of the support that Valentine would need, as she kept Johnson off the scoreboard the final four innings to earn the win. She scattered eight hits over seven innings, striking out two and walking two. Johnson starter Alexis Fleischer allowed nine hits with six strikeouts and two walks over five innings and took the loss.
Game 2 - NVU-Lyndon 7, NVU-Johnson 3
Johnson again got off to a fast start in the top of the first inning. Colon singled leading off, then Mushkin laced a one-out double, moving Colon to third. Colon then scored thanks to a Hornet error and Mushkin followed when she beat the throw home after Embry beat out a bunt.
The Hornets capitalized on three Johnson fielding miscues in the bottom of the first inning. With one out, Blake Southworth (Bethel, VT) and Anderson reached on back to back errors, with Southworth coming around to score Lyndon's first run. Two batters later, Porter drove a deep shot over the center field fence for a two-run home run that gave the Hornets the lead. Valentine was next up and drew a walk. She stole second, then came home to make it 4-2, Lyndon, when Fortin reached on an error.
Johnson got within one run in the top of the third inning. Jones led off with a double. With two outs, Allyson Hefner reached on an error, allowing Jones to score.
Lyndon pushed across a run in the home fifth when Valentine again walked and stole second. This time she scored when Lauren Siciliano (Lynbrook, NY) reached on the fourth Badger error of the game.
The Hornets opened up some breathing room in the bottom of the sixth inning. Everett doubled leading off, then Anderson walked. After both runners moved up on a double steal, Everett scored on a wild pitch. Then with two outs, Porter's RBI single scored Anderson to make it 7-3, Hornets.
Meanwhile, Valentine kept Johnson off the scoreboard the rest of the way. After setting the Badgers down quietly in the fourth and fifth innings, Johnson loaded the bases in both the sixth and seventh innings. Both times Valentine was able to pitch her way out of the inning without yielding a run. She picked up the complete game win after allowing only one earned run on eight hits with three strikeouts and four walks. Mushkin also went the distance for Johnson, allowing two earned runs on seven hits with eight strikeouts and four walks.
The Hornets will travel to Bay Path University for a non-conference doubleheader on Tuesday afternoon. First pitch is 3:00 pm.
