Northborough, MA - Down to their final out, the Vermont State University Lyndon baseball team rallied for four runs in the top of the ninth inning to push past Anna Maria College in Saturday's non-conference game. With the win the Hornets evened their record at 2-2 on the season, while the Amcats fell to 6-5.
Lyndon starter Carlos Rodriguez (La Mirada, CA) and Anna Maria starter Owen Sullivan became locked in a pitchers' duel in the early innings. Neither team was able to break through until the Amcats' Joseph Scarapicchia laced a one-out triple in the bottom of the fourth inning, then came in to score on Jaiden Driscoll's sacrifice fly. Rodroguez exited after five innings, allowing only the single run and five hits while striking out seven.
The Hornets finally broke through against Sullivan in the top of the sixth inning. Aaron LeFrancois (Rutland, VT), Eyon Tembreull (Vergennes, VT), and Cesar Cisneros (National City, CA) strung together three consecutive singles, with Cisneros driving in LeFrancois to even the score at 1-1.
Anna Maria promptly regained the lead in the bottom of the sixth inning when Josh Batchelder was hit by a pitch from Lyndon reliever Nathan Bigelow (East Hampton, CT) and later came around to score on Scarapicchia's sacrifice fly.
Lyndon took its first lead of the game in the top of the seventh inning against Amcat reliever Francesco De Vivo. Tredell blow (Yorktown, VA) reached on an error leading off. After pinch hitter Matt Doherty (Gardner, MA) singled, Jeren Harrison (Charlotte, NC) moved both runners over with a sacrifice bunt. Carter Paquette (Shoreham, VT) followed with a triple, driving in both runners to make the score 3-2, Lyndon.
Anna Maria regained the lead in the bottom of the eighth inning. Mason Kolczewski and Brady Aylward started the inning with back to back singles. After Brayden Wright singled to drive in Kolczewski, Austin Bigelow (East Hampton, CT) came in to relieve Nathan Bigelow. Another Scarapicchia sacrifice fly brought home Aylward to put Anna Maria back in front, 4-3.
After Blow walked leading off the top of the ninth inning, Doherty beat out an infield hit and was replaced by pinch runner Keegan Stephenson (Lander, WY). With one out Pauquette was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Following a Hornet strikeout, Lyndon was down to its last out. Tembreull drew a walk to bring home Blow with the tying run. Cisneros was then hit by a pitch to drive in Stephenson with the go ahead run. Ryan Alt (Poultney, VT) then delivered a two-run double to give Lyndon some breathing room at 7-4.
Austin Bigelow then retired the Amcats in order to secure the Hornet victory. Bigelow earned the win, while Sean O'Hara, the third of four Amcat pitchers, took the loss.
Lyndon will travel to Middlebury College for another non-conference game on Tuesday afternoon. First pitch is scheduled for
