Chicopee, MA - The Vermont State University Lyndon softball team showed no signs of rust from a 16-day layoff on Tuesday. The Hornets received solid pitching and contributions throughout the batting order en route to a doubleheader sweep of Elms College. With today's results, Lyndon improved to 3-4 on the season while Elms fell to 1-9.
Game 1 - VTSU Lyndon 12, Elms 4
The Blazers jumped out to the early lead in the home half of the first inning. Jill Dykema led the game off with a triple and later scored on a wild pitch. Caity Flynn followed with a base hit, stole second, and moved to third on a wild pitch. Flynn came home with the second Elms run on Katie Cosmos' base hit.
The Blazer lead didn't last long, as Lyndon erupted for six runs in the top of the second inning. Saleena Porter (St. Johnsbury, VT) singled to lead off the inning. One out later, Seairra Anderson (Somersworth, NH) doubled, driving in Porter. Adrianna Lemieux (St. Johnsbury, VT) and Ann Watkins (Los Angeles, CA) then reached on back to back Blazer errors, with Anderson scoring when Watkins reached base. After Watkins stole second, Lemieux scored on a wild pitch, giving Lyndon the lead. Blake Southworth singled and stole second, then Victoria Valentine's (East Burke, VT) sacrifice fly brought home Watkins. Claudia Knapp (Howell, NJ) capped the rally with a two-run home run to right field.
The score remained 6-2 through the third and fourth innings, as both pitchers, Valentine and Kaelyn Zakaitis, kept the offenses off the board.
The Hornets put the game away with another six-run outburst in the top of the fifth inning. Bailey Quire (Gainesville, FL) got things started with a base hit, then was lifted for pinch runner Caitlin Haggett (St. Johnsbury, VT). Porter followed with another base hit, then Riann Fortin (Newport, VT) singled back up the middle, scoring Haggett. One out later, Lemieux's two-run single scored Porter and pinch runner Emily Anderson (Levittown, NY). After Watkins reached on an error, Blake Southworth (Bethel, VT) singled, driving in Lemieux. Watkins then came home on a wild pitch, making the score 12-2, Lyndon.
Elms was able to push across two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning, but it was far too little, too late.
Valentine earned the complete game win in the circle, allowing three earned runs and striking out three. Zakaitis was tagged with the loss.
Game 2 - VTSU Lyndon 7, Elms 1
Lyndon scored once in the top of the first inning. Southworth singled leading off, then stole second and advanced to third. She scored the game's first run on Valentine's RBI ground out.
After scoreless frames in the second and third innings, Lyndon pushed across another run in the top of the fourth inning. Fortin walked leading off, moved to second on a ground out, and stole third. Lindsey Gannon (Beverly, MA) singled home Fortin to make it 2-0, Hornets.
Valentine singled with one out in the top of the fifth inning. She stole second, then came in to score with Porter reached on an error. Fortin then doubled home Porter with the fourth Lyndon run.
The Hornets extended the lead with a two-out rally in the top of the sixth inning. Pinch hitter Kerigan Disorda (Benson, VT) got things started with a base hit, then Southworth singled. Valentine followed with a two-run double to center field, increasing the lead to 6-0.
The Hornets pushed across one more run in the top of the seventh inning. Emily Anderson drew a one-out walk. After Seairra Anderson singled to move Emily Anderson to third, Lemieux grounded out to drive in the run.
The story in the bottom half of each inning was Hornet starting pitcher Quire. She took a shutout into the seventh inning before Zakaitis singled home Kyla Cook with the only Elms run of the game. Quire scattered seven hits and struck out two while walking only one in picking up the win. Dykema also went the distance in taking the loss.
Lyndon will travel to Emerson College for a non-conference doubleheader on Sunday afternoon. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 pm.
