Presque Isle, ME - Vermont State University Lyndon combined some timely hitting with a stellar pitching performance from Nathan Bigelow (East Hampton, CT) to take game two of today's North Atlantic Conference baseball doubleheader at the University of Maine at Presque Isle.  UMPI had collected a walk-off win in the opener.  With the split, the Hornets are now 4-25 overall and 3-8 in NAC play, while the Owls are 3-19 on the season and 2-10 in conference.

Game 1 - UMaine-Presque Isle 5, VTSU Lyndon 4

UMPI jumped in front with a pair of runs in the bottom of the first inning. Joey Lippo led the game off with a walk, then one out later Timothy Burns singled.  Joey Blake's RBI single scored Lippo and put the Owls on the board.  A two-out single from Anthony Searels drove in Burns.

The Owls added to their lead in the bottom of the second inning.  Ricky Goupille singled leading off, then stole second.  He later scored on Lippo's double, making the score 3-0, UMPI.

Lyndon got back within a run with a two-out rally in the top of the third inning.  Kearson Grisham (Choctaw, MS) got things started with a base hit.  Matt Doherty (Gardner, MA) followed with a base hit down the left field line, moving Grisham to third.  Matt Gonyeau (St. Albans, VT) then reached on an error, allowing both Grisham and Doherty to score.

The Hornets got back to even in the top of the fourth inning.  Alberto Bustamante (Northridge, CA) singled leading off.  Dale Ostermann (Harrington, DE) singled, then stole second.  After Nolan Barber (Jericho, VT) walked to load the bases.  After Bustamante was out at the plate on a fielder's choice, Grishma walked to bring home Ostermann with the tying run.

The game stayed tied at 3-3 until the top of the seventh inning.  Grisham singled leading off, then Doherty reached on an error.  When Gonyeau beat out an infield hit, the Hornets had again loaded the bases.  Grisham was thrown out at the plate on a fielder's choice, but Doherty came home to give the Hornets the lead when Bustamante grounded into a fielder's choice when the Owls were unable to turn a double play.

In the bottom of the seventh inning, Burns doubled leading off, putting the tying run on base.  Blake walked, then Romeo Harris singled to load the bases.  One out later, Mason long singled, driving in Burns to tie the game.  Goupille followed with another base hit, scoring Blake and giving the Owls the walk off win.

Jonah Baude went the distance to pick up the win for UMPI.  He allowed one earned run on seven hits, striking out three and walking four.  Ostermann came on to pitch in the seventh and took the loss for Lyndon.

Game 2 - VTSU Lyndon 7, UMaine-Presque Isle 1

The Hornets wasted no time getting going in the nightcap.  Grisham reached with a one-out single, then Evan Duncan (Little Elm, TX) doubled to right field, driving in Grisham.  Duncan moved to third on the throw, then scored when Doherty grounded out.

Lyndon extended its lead in the top of the fifth inning.  Duncan doubled leading off then moved to third on a passed ball.  Gonyeau reached on an infield hit, driving in Duncan.  Gonyeau then stole second and moved to third on a Bustamante base hit.  Tyler Murro's (Littleton, NH) sacrifice fly brought home Gonyeau to make it 4-0, Lyndon.

The Hornets tacked on two more runs in the top of the sixth inning.  Barber singled leading off and later scored on Grisham's sacrifice fly.  Duncan was up next and lofted a solo home run.

Lyndon added another insurance run in the top of the ninth inning.  Bustamante singled, then Murro walked.  Bustamante moved to third when the Owls turned a double play.  He came in to score on Barber's base hit.

After Bigelow got the first two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning, Garret Chadwick doubled to keep the Owls alive.  He moved to third on a wild pitch, then scored when Burns reached on an error.  After Blake walked, Sean Cavanaugh (Londonderry, NH) came on for Bigelow and got the final out.

Bigelow was dominant throughout.  He went 8.2 innings and didn't allow an earned run, surrendering only three hits while striking out five and walking one.  UMPI starter Dakota Morrow took the loss.

The Hornets and Owls will square off in another doubleheader on Sunday.  First pitch is scheduled for 11:00 am.