Lyndonville, VT - Dale Ostermann's (Milford, DE) one-out single in the bottom of the ninth inning scored Dalton Berry (Tavares, FL) with the game winning run, giving Northern Vermont University-Lyndon a 5-4 non-conference baseball victory over Norwich University on Wednesday afternoon. The win was Lyndon's fifth in a row, and raised their record to 8-17 on the season. Norwich fell to 8-19.
The Hornets got on the board first in the bottom of the first inning. TJ Santaw (Newport, VT) led off with a base hit, then advanced on a pair of ground outs. He came in to score on Ryan Alt's (Poultney, VT) base hit up the middle to give Lyndon the early lead.
Hornet starter Mike Redmond (Plantation, FL) kept the Norwich bats in check early. He retired the first nine Cadets he faced, before PJ Morales walked leading off the fourth inning. After Kevin Ohlsen moved Morales to second with a sacrifice bunt, Geffen Franus doubled to deep center field, scoring Morales to tie the game. Mike Macaluso's base hit scored Franus to give the Cadets a 2-1 lead.
Lyndon came right back in the bottom of the fourth inning. Oscar Paredes (Toa Baja, Puerto Rico) walked leading off. Kearson Grisham (Choctaw, MS) then reached on an error. After Grisham moved to second, Steven Friscia (Smithtown, NY) doubled down the left field line, driving in both runners and putting Lyndon back in front. Berry then reached on an infield hit, moving Friscia to third. Santaw lifted a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Friscia to make the score 4-2, Lyndon.
Sean Cavanaugh (Londonderry, NH) relieved Redmond in the fifth inning and retired the first five Cadets he faced. However, Norwich got back to within one run in the top of the sixth when Hayden Roberge deposited a two-out solo home run over the left field wall. Lyndon relievers Adam English (Mesa, AZ) and Alberto Bustamante (Los Angeles, CA) were able to shut the door on Norwich over the next 2.1 innings, preserving the 4-3 lead going into the ninth inning.
Trailing by one going into the ninth inning, Owen Silk gave Norwich life with a lead off base hit off of Ostermann. Pinch hitter Ryan Miller reached on an error, then another pinch hitter, Tyler Callahan reached on a fielders choice where Silk beat the throw to third to load the bases. A wild pitch allowed Silk to score the tying run, but Ostermann was able to work his way out of the jam without allowing further damage.
Berry started things in the home ninth inning with a base hit back up the middle. He promptly stole second to put himself in scoring position, then moved to third one out later on a wild pitch. Ostermann then deposited a ball past the Norwich right fielder to give Lyndon the walk-off win.
Ostermann picked up the win in relief. He has now been the winning pitcher in three straight games. Nick Beavin, the seventh Norwich pitcher of the game, took the loss.
Lyndon returns to action this weekend when they host Thomas College in a key North Atlantic Conference series. The Hornets and Terriers will play doubleheaders on Saturday and Sunday, with first pitch each day scheduled for 12:00 noon.
