Waterville, ME - For most of Monday's North Atlantic Conference baseball game, Vermont State University Lyndon appeared to be well on the way to a big conference victory at Thomas College. Unfortunately for the Hornets, the Terriers rallied from a five-run deficit to defeat the Hornets, 7-6. With the win Thomas improved to 13-16 overall and 9-7 in the NAC. Lyndon fell to 6-26 on the season and 5-9 in conference.
Lyndon capitalized with a pair of Thomas errors to plate a run in the top of the first inning. TJ Santaw (Newport, VT) reached on an error leading off, then moved to third on Evan Duncan's (Little Elm, TX) base hit. Santaw came home on another Terrier error.
With one out in the second inning, Alberto Bustamante (Northridge, CA) drew a walk. Bustamante was retired when Isaiah Wittrig (Phoenix, AZ) grounded into a fielder's choice. After Nolan Barber (Jericho, VT) was hit by a pitch, Santaw came through with a two-run double, increasing the Hornet lead to 3-0.
Lyndon continued to roll in the top of the third inning. After Duncan singled leading off, Matt Doherty (Gardner, MA) deposited the baseball over the left field fence for a two-run home run, making it 5-0, Hornets through three.
For six and a half innings it looked like the 5-0 lead would be more than enough, as Lyndon starting pitcher Dale Ostermann (Harrington, DE) kept the Terriers at bay with five shutout innings. Thomas finally broke through against Ostermann in the home half of the sixth inning. Tony Meza doubled leading off the sixth. Cam Naynes followed with a base hit and was lifted for pinch runner Lucas Harmon. DJ Cagnina then singled back up the middle to score Meza. Harmon later scored the second Thomas run when Matt Seymour hit into a fielder's choice.
Lyndon tacked on what seemed to be an insurance run in the top of the seventh inning. Duncan doubled leading off. He moved to third base on a passed ball and later scored when Ryan Alt (Poultney, VT) hit into a fielder's choice.
Trailing 6-2 heading into the bottom of the seventh inning, Jason Bartlett and Elijah Morton started the inning with back to back base hits. One out later, Meza delivered another base hit and Bartlett scored when the Hornets misplayed the ball. Meza was lifted for pinch runner Reid Gagnon. Pinch hitter Javier Diaz singled, driving in Morton to cut the lead to 6-4 and chasing Ostermann.
Adam English (Mesa, AZ) relieved Ostermann and surrendered a base hit to Cagnina, driving in Gagnon and cutting the Lyndon lead further, to 6-5. Brandon Fernandes (Sebring, FL) then came in to relieve English. After Cagnina stole second, he was replaced by pinch runner Ben Seguin. Samuel Keblinsky drew a walk, and a passed ball on ball four allowed Diaz to score the tying run. After Seymour was intentionally walked, Fernandez got Aaron Young to fly out. But Bartlett's single back up the middle drove in Seguin to give Thomas the walk-off win.
Gabe Carrizoza, the fourth Thomas pitcher, got the win. English was tagged with the loss.
Lyndon returns home on Wednesday afternoon when they host Husson University in a NAC doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for 2:00 pm.
