Waterville, ME - Freshman Jack Holley (San Gabriel, CA) and junior Dale Ostermann (Harrington, DE) combined for a four-hit shutout as Vermont State University Lyndon picked up a 5-0 victory over Thomas College in the finale of their three-game North Atlantic Conference series. Thomas had used an eight run fourth inning to take the first game of the Monday doubleheader played at Colby College, 11-4. With the split the Hornets moved to 2-14 overall and 1-2 in NAC play. Thomas ended the day at 6-10 on the season and 2-1 in conference.
Game 1 - Thomas 11, VTSU Lyndon 4
Thomas took the early lead in the bottom of the first inning when Elijah Morton led off with a bunt single and later came around to score on Jeremy Spencer's sacrifice fly.
The Hornets answered with a pair of runs in the top of the second inning. Matt Doherty (Gardner, MA) led off the inning with a double to left center field. After Tyler Murro (Littleton, NH) walked, Ostermann's sacrifice bunt moved runners to second and third. with two outs, Dalton Berry (Tavares, FL) delivered a base hit to left, scoring both runners and giving Lyndon the lead.
Thomas tied things in the bottom of the second inning. Samuel Keblinsky doubled leading off and moved to third when Cam Haynes flied out. Keblinsky then scored on a passed ball to make it 2-2.
Things stayed that way until the home fourth inning. Keblinsky reached on an error leading off. After Haynes singled, Patrick Temby reached on a sacrifice bunt due to a Hornet error. Keblinsky scored on the play, putting the Terriers in front. Jason Bartlett followed with a two-run double and later came home on an Elijah Morris base hit. After Spencer walked, Matt Seymour laced a two-run double to left. Keblinsky followed with a two-run home run, extending the Thomas lead to 10-2 through four innings.
Lyndon got two runs back in the top of the fifth inning. Evan Duncan (Little Elm, TX) beat out a bunt single leading off, then moved to second on Berry's base hit. TJ Santaw (Newport, VT) then singled back up the middle, driving in Duncan. After Berry was picked off, Kearson Grisham (Choctaw, MS) singled. ONe out later, Ryan Alt's (Poultney, VT) base hit brought home Santaw, cutting the Thomas lead to 10-4. Doherty then walked to load the bases, but Daniel May came in to relieve Terrier starter Andrew Pruell and get the final out and end the Hornet threat.
Thomas added an insurance run in the bottom of the fifth inning when Bartlet reached base after being hit by a pitch and later scored on Tony Meza's base hit.
That would be all of the scoring, as May retired the Hornets in order in the last two innings to close out the game for Thomas. Pruell went 4.2 innings to pick up the win, while Lyndon starter Carlos Rodriguez (La Mirada, CA) went 4.2 innings and absorbed the loss.
Game 2 - VTSU Lyndon 5, Thomas 0
Lyndon took the lead in the top of the second inning of game two. After Anthony Ness (Silver Springs, NV) singled to lead off the frame, Duncan lined a two-run home run over the fence.
The Hornets would make it 3-0 in the top of the third inning. After Grisham walked, back to back base hits from Alt and Doherty loaded the bases. Duncan then drew a walk, driving in Grisham. The Hornets were unable to inflict further damage, however, and left the base loaded.
Lyndon extended their lead with two more runs in the top of the fourth inning. Alberto Bustamante (Northridge, CA) walked leading off. He would later score on Santaw's RBI double. Grisham then beat out a bunt single and Doherty was hit by a pitch to load the bases. A passed ball allowed Santaw to score, making it 5-0, Hornets.
That would prove to be more than enough for Holley. The freshman right hander scattered four hits and overcame seven walks by preventing the big hit and stranding Terrier runners in every inning. He pitched out of a bases loaded jam in the home fifth inning, keeping Thomas off the board.
Thomas again loaded the bases with two outs in the home sixth inning. However Ostermann came in to relieve Holley and got Meza to pop out to end the threat. After issuing a leadoff walk in the bottom of the seventh frame, Ostermann got Seymour to ground into a double play, then struck out Keblinsky to end the game and preserve the shutout.
Holley earned his first collegiate win, striking out a pair and scattering four hits over 5.2 innings. Ostermann had one strikeout in 1.1 innings of hitless relief. Garrison Paillet took the loss for Thomas.
The Hornets are scheduled to play at home for the first time this season when they host Husson for a four-game North Atlantic Conference weekend series on Saturday and Sunday. First pitch for Saturday's doubleheader is scheduled for 1:00 pm, with another twin bill set for Sunday at noon.
