Lynn, MA - The Vermont State University Lyndon baseball team fell to the University of Maine at Presque Isle, 6-5, in their North Atlantic Conference opener on Saturday afternoon.  Lyndon then dropped a 5-2 non-conference decision to Fisher College on Saturday evening.  Lyndon is now 2-8 overall, while UMPI and Fisher both evened their overall records, UMPI at 4-4 and Fisher at 11-11.  UMPI is 1-2 in NAC play.

Game 1 - UMaine Presque Isle 6, VTSU Lyndon 5 - 10 innings

The Owls started with a triple from Sam Bay, and he would score courtesy of a single from Garrett Chadwick who was also the pitcher for UMPI, the starting pitcher for the Hornets was junior Nathan Bigelow (East Hampton, VT).  Sophomore outfielder for the Hornets Evan Duncan (Little Elm, TX) hit a single to center field to get Lyndon going.  He would steal second and senior Alberto Bustamante (Northridge, CA) would lay down a sacrifice bunt to move Duncan to third.  Junior first baseman Ryan Alt (Poultney, VT) would single to right field to tie the game 1-1.  At the top of the second inning, UMPI would start a two-out rally with a pair of singles from Hector Perez and Bay.  They both would score on a single by Chadwick to make the score 3-1. 

Freshman shortstop Eyon Tembreull (Vergennes, VT) started the bottom of the second with a double to right field, but the Hornets weren't able to bring him home.  The Owls kicked off the fifth inning with a walk from Mason Long and would go on to score from a two-out single from Chadwick.  Chadwick also scored from a single by Ian Michaud to make the score 5-1.  The fifth inning would be the last inning that Bigelow threw for the Hornets.  He got relieved by Bustamante. 

At the bottom of the sixth inning, the Hornets managed to load the bases with two outs.  Freshman Bryan Nazario (Little Elm, TX) came to pinch hit and delivered a single to second to bring home senior outfielder Will Perkins (Holtwood, PA) and senior second baseman Dale Ostermann (Harrington, DE) to make the score 5-3.  Bustamante did a great job at holding the Owls.  The Hornets got back a run at the bottom of the seventh, courtesy of a sacrifice fly by junior catcher Matt Gonyeau (Saint Albans, VT) to bring home Duncan.

At the bottom of the eighth, the Hornets had a man on third with two outs with a chance to tie the game, but Chadwick came through with a huge strikeout to keep the lead intact.  The Owls couldn't score at the top of the ninth and it was the last chance for the Hornets to tie or win the game.  Spencer Harman came in to close out the game, but Duncan homered to left field to tie the game 5-5. 

At the top of tenth, Dylan Geren doubled with one out and would later advance to third on a ground out.  Perez came in the clutch with RBI triple to center field to put the Owls up by one.  In the bottom of the inning the Hornets managed to load the bases with two outs, but Harman escaped the jam by getting a ground out to second to win the game. 

Chadwick had a stellar pitching performance this game.  He went eight innings with ten strikeouts.  He also went 3-5 with four RBIs.  Harman got the win and is now 1-2 on the season. 

For the Hornets, Bigelow and Bustamante went five innings and both combined for ten strikeouts.  Bustamante received the loss and is now 0-2 on the season.  Duncan went 3-5 with one RBI and one walk.

Game 2 - Fisher 5, VTSU Lyndon 2

Fisher jumped in front with two rns in the bottom of the first inning and held off the Hornets.  Jatnier Torres was the big Falcon bat with a double, two singles, and three runs batted in.  Maylo Sierra struck out eight over six innings to pick up the win.  Emmanuel Grullon, the sixth Falcon pitcher, earned the save.

Will Perkins (Holtwood, PA) and Carter Paquette (Shoreham, VT) had two hits each for the Hornets.  Joey Hanlon (Trinity, FL) started and went five innings in taking the loss.

Lyndon will play UMPI and Fisher in another split doubleheader on Sunday.  Teh Owls and Hornets will square off at 2:30 and the Falcons at 6:00.