Lyndonville, VT - The University of Maine at Farmington spoiled Senior Day at Vermont State University Lyndon, sweeping both ends of Thursday's North Atlantic Conference doubleheader. With the wins the Beavers improved to 13-9 on the season and 6-2 in conference. The Hornets fell to 6-17 overall and 1-7 in the NAC.
Game 1 - UMaine-Farmington 10, VTSU Lyndon 5
UMF jumped out to a lead in the top of the first inning when Abby Wrinn doubled leading off, moved to third on Jojo Daigneault's base hit, and scored on a wild pitch. The Beavers made it 3-0 an inning later when Reilly Russell drew a one-out walk and Jessica Dow followed with a two-run home run.
Lyndon got on the board in the home second. Victoria Valentine (East Burke, CT) singled with one out. Valentine moved to second on an error, then scored when Seairra Anderson (Somersworth, NH) reached on an error.
The Hornets got within one run in the home half of the fourth inning. Saleena Porter (St. Johnsbury, VT) was hit by a pitch leading off and replaced by pinch runner Emily Anderson (Levittown, NY). Anderson moved to second when Valentine grounded out and scored on Riann Fortin's (Newport, VT) base hit.
UMF picked up a pair of unearned runs in the top of the fifth inning. Wrinn singled to get things started. She moved to second when Maddie Pike grounded out and came in to score on Christa Allen's base hit, making it 5-2, Beavers.
Lyndon rallied to tie the game in the bottom of the fifth inning. Lindsey Gannon (Beverly, MA) doubled down the left field line leading off. She moved to third on a wild pitch, then scored on a Blake Southworth (Bethel, VT) base hit. Claudia Knapp (Howell, NJ) followed with a double. Then with two outs, Valentine reached on an error, allowing Southworth to score. Fortin then singled to right, driving in Knapp and tying the game at 5-5.
The Beavers regained the lead in the top of the sixth inning. Taylor Truman reached on a two-base error leading off and was lifted for pinch runner Reilly Russell. Russell stole third, then scored on Dow's sacrifice fly.
After the Hornets threatened but couldn't score in the home half of the sixth inning, UMF opened up some breathing room in the top of the seventh. The Beavers loaded the bases with one out, then scored twice when Katie Morse's sacrifice fly was dropped. UMF plated another run when Russell and Grace Pratt executed a double steal. Dow singled home Russell with the final UMF run. Lyndon then went down in order in the bottom half of the inning to end the game.
Beaver starter Mack Bergen picked up the win after allowing five earned runs and striking out six without a walk over five innings of work. Carleigh Schievink came on to pitch two scoreless innings of relief and earn the save. Valentine went the distance in the circle for Lyndon, allowing four earned runs and striking out five against three walks while absorbing the loss.
Game 2 - UMaine-Farmington 12, VTSU Lyndon 1
The Beavers wasted little time taking control of the nightcap. Wrinn reached on an error leading off the game. She came around to score on Pike's double. Pratt's two-out base hit plated Pike to make it 2-0, Beavers.
Lyndon got one run back in the bottom of the first inning. Southworth doubled and moved to third on a wild pitch. Fortin drove in Southworth with a two-out double.
UMF extended their lead with a five hit second inning. Truman and Dow started the inning with back to back base hits. After Emily Collins sacrificed the runners over, Wrinn drove a triple to the right field fence, scoring both runners. After Daigneault beat out an infield hit, Pike's single back up the middle scored Wrinn and gave teh Beavers a 5-1 lead.
The Beavers continued to open things up in the third inning. Bella Miller singled leading off and advanced to second on a Hornet misplay. She moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on a passed ball. After Truman reached on an error and Dow singled, Collins hit into a fielder's choice when Valentine threw across the diamond to cut down the lead runner at third. The runners moved up on a wild pitch, then scored on an errant throw and another wild pitch.
The Beavers pounded out six more hits in the top of the fifth inning, bringing their total to 16 for the game. After Truman led off with a single, Dow hit her second home run of the day, a two run shot over the left field fence. Collins followed with a base hit, then scored on Wrinn's double. A Pike base hit drove in Wrinn, making the score 12-1, UMF. That would be how it ended after the Hornets went down in the bottom half of the inning.
Melissa Mayo picked up the complete game victory for UMF. She allowed only three hits and struck out six with one walk over five innings. Bailey Quire (Gainesville, FL) also went the distance in the circle for Lyndon. She took the loss after allowing eight earned runs and striking out thre without a walk.
Prior to Thursday's doubleheader Lyndon honored their four graduating seniors, Kerigan Disorda (Benson, VT), Amber Everett (Morrisville, VT), Saleena Porter (St. Johnsbury, VT), and Valentine. The players were joined on the field by family and friends as they were recognized for their contributions to Hornet softball and the Lyndon campus community.
Lyndon will return to action on Monday when the Hornets host Eastern Nazarene College in a North Atlantic Conference doubleheader that has ben rescheduled multiple times. First pitch will be at 3:00 pm.
