Lyndonville, VT - The Northern Vermont University-Lyndon baseball team took to their home field at the Skip Pound Baseball Complex for the first time this season on Saturday afternoon. The Hornets found the familiar confines to their liking, as they swept a pair of games from the University of Maine at Farmington, winning the opener, 7-2, then taking the nightcap, 10-2. Lyndon improved to 5-17 overall and 2-4 in conference, while UMF fell to 3-20 on the season and 0-6 in the NAC.
Game 1 - NVU-Lyndon 7, UMaine-Farmington 2
Hornet starter Carlos Rodriguez (La Mirada, CA) was the story of the opener. Rodriguez stifled the Beavers, holding them scoreless through the game's first six innings. UMF finally broke through with a pair of runs in the top of the seventh inning, but Rodriguez was able finish the complete game, 116-pitch outing to pick up the win.
Meanwhile, the Hornets provided Rodriguez with ample run support. Lyndon got on the board in the home first inning when Dale Ostermann (Milford, DE) singled, stole second, and scored on Ryan Alt's (Poultney, VT) base hit.
Lyndon added three more runs in the bottom of the third inning. TJ Santaw (Newport, VT) led off with a base hit. One out later, Dylan Wilson (Monroe, CT) tripled to the wall in center field, scoring Santaw. Alt's single scored Wilson, and Alt later came around and scored on a wild pitch.
The Hornets added a run in the fourth inning and two unearned runs in the sixth. UMF finally got something going against Rodriguez in the seventh, picking up a pair of runs on an RBI single from Juan Subveri and a fielder's choice. That would be the extent of the Beaver rally, however, as the Hornets closed the door for their first NAC win.
Game 2 - NVU-Lyndon 10, UMaine-Farmington 2
The Hornets pounded out 14 hits and scored in seven of eight turns at the plate in cruising to the win. Santaw wasted no time in getting the offense going when he led off the first with a triple. He scored when Ostermann grounded out, giving Lyndon the early lead.
Lyndon took advantage of a pair of hit batters and a walk, togehter with base hits from EJ Camden (Corona, CA) and Dalton Berry (Tavares, FL) to manufacture a pair of runs in the second inning.
UMF got on the board with a run in the top of the fourth inning, as Nate Coombs drew a leadoff walk off of Alt, Lyndon's game two starter, and later scored on Jameson Bloch's base hit.
Lyndon would break the game open with three more runs in their half of the fourth inning. After Berry and Santaw drew walks, Ostermann delivered an RBI double, then Wilson followed with a sacrifice fly. A Will Perkins (Holtwood, PA) base hit scored Ostermann, and the Hornet lead was up to 6-1.
That would be more than enough run support for Alt. The freshman went a strong seven innings, allowing only two runs on four hits, with three strikeouts, to earn his first collegiate win. Adam English (Mesa, AZ) and Matt Brault (Milton, VT) each pitched a scoreless inning of relief to finish the game.
Meanwhile, the Hornets tacked on single runs in each of their final four innings to account for the final score.
The Hornets and Beavers will complete their four-game weekend series with another doubleheader on Sunday afternoon. First pitch is set for 12:00 noon.
