North Myrtle Beach, SC - The Vermont State University Lyndon softball team dropped a pair of games on their final day of play at the Fastpitch Dreams Spring Classic.  In the first game of the day, North Carolina Wesleyan University broke a 2-2 tie by pushing across an unearned run in the bottom of the fifth inning, then added three runs in the sixth to come away with a 6-2 win over the Hornets.  Thein in their final game of the tournament, Lyndon's seventh inning rally came up just short in a 5-3 loss to Pennsylvania State University Beaver.  The Hornets head back home with a 1-4 record.

Game 1 - North Carolina Wesleyan 6, VTSU Lyndon 2

Makayla Simmons' RBI single in the bottom of the first inning brought home Skyler Walker with the first run of the game.  The Bishops made it 2-0 in the home second when Alexis Whitfield beat out an infield hit and later scored on Walker's sacrifice fly.

Lyndon evened things up in the top of the third inning.  Amber Everett (Morrisville, VT) drew a walk leading off, then Blake Southworth (Bethel, VT) beat out an infield hit.  Everett came in to score when Claudia Knapp (Howell, NJ) reached on an error.  Southworth then came home with the tying run when Knapp was thrown out trying to steal second.

Both Hornet starter Bailey Quire (Gainesville, FL) and Bishop starter Emily Humphrey settled in over the next several frames to keep the game deadlocked at 2-2.

North Carolina Wesleyan took advantage of a Hornet error to push across an unearned run in the bottom of the fifth inning.  Then with two outs in the home sixth, Hannah Rubino drew a walk and came around to score on Lillie Baumbach's double.  Back to back RBI singles pushed across two more runs, extending the Bishop lead to 6-2 heading into the final inning.

Lyndon was able to bring the tying run to the plate in the top of the seventh inning after Everett drew a one-out walk, Southworth hit into a fielder's choice, and Knapp singled.  However Humphrey was able to retire Saleena Porter (St. Johnsbury, VT) to end the threat and the game.

Humphrey picked up the complete game victory, scattering nine hits while striking out five against two walks.  Quire took the loss, also throwing a complete game.  She allowed five earned runs and ten hits with one strikeout and four walks.

Game 2 - Penn State Beaver 5, VTSU Lyndon 3

Lyndon's final game of the Classic started out as a pitcher's duel between the Hornets' Victoria Valentine (East Burke, VT) and Penn State Beaver's Kierstyn Mays.  The Lions took advantage of a Hornet error to score an unearned run in the bottom of the second inning, the only run allowed by either pitcher through the first four and a half innings.

Beaver added a run in the bottom of the fifth inning when Chloe Coleman delivered a two-out single to left field, stole second, and came around to score on Mackenzie Boyd's double.

The Lions appeared to be in command following a three-run sixth inning.  Selene Lopez was hit by a pitch leading off, then pinch hitter Bailey Vavricek singled.  Maria Matts reached on an error to load the bases.  Haley Cook's single scored Lopez, then Vavricek scored on a wild pitch.  Matts then came home on Valentina Sandoval's ground out, making it 5-0, Beaver.

Down to their last inning, Lyndon finally broke through against Mays.  Valentine reached on an error leading off and scored Lyndon's first run on Seairra Anderson's (Somersworth, NH) double.  Adriana Lemieux (St. Johnsbury, VT) singled, moving Anderson to third, where she was lifted for pinch runner Caitlin Haggett (St. Johnsbury, VT).  Quire followed with a base hit back up th middle, scoring Haggett and bringing the tying run to the plate.  Everett then reached on a fielder's choice, bringing home Lemieux and bringing the potential winning run to the plate.  Southworth singled to center field, but Quire was thrown out at the plate trying to score.  Knapp then flied out to center field and the Lions escaped with the win.

Mays allowed two earned runs and six hits over seven innings to earn the win.  Valentine took the loss, allowing three earned runs and six hits over six innings while striking out four and walking three.

Lyndon is now off until March 19th, when they will travel to Elms College for a non-conference doubleheader.  First pitch is scheduled for 2:00 pm.