Lyndonville, VT - Strong pitching was the order of the day in Wednesday's North Atlantic Conference doubleheader between Vermont State University and Lesley University. The Hornets and Lynx split a pair of one-run games, leaving the Hornets 11-17 overall and 7-7 in NAC play and the Lynx 10-20 on the season and 6-12 in the NAC.
Game 1 - Lesley 1, VTSU Lyndon 0
Lesley pushed across a run in the top of the first inning. Andres Moreno walked leading off the game, then stole second with one out. Gerlys Martinez then singled with two outs, driving in Moreno with what would prove to be the only run of the game.
The single run would be all that Lynx starter Jacob Nemergut would need. Nemergut kept Hornet hitters off balance and off the scoreboard for seven innings. He allowed only two hits, a pair of third inning singles from Austin Bigelow (East Hampton, CT) and Cesar Cisneros (National City, CA). He struck out six and walked only one to earn the win.
The Hornets also received outstanding pitching, as Matt Gonyeau (St. Albans, VT), Tyler Kimball (Vergennes, VT) and Nathan Bigelow (East Hampton, CT) combined to allow only the first inning run and five hits with eight combined strikeouts. Gonyeau was the hard luck losing pitcher.
Game 2 - VTSU Lyndon 3, Lesley 2
The Hornets got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the second inning when Ryan Alt (Poultney, VT) laced a one-out double and later scored on Jeren Harrison's (Charlotte, NC) two-out base hit.
Lyndon increased their advantage to 3-0 an inning later. Sean Dunton (Quechee, VT) reached on a Lynx error leading off. He stole second, then moved to third on Eyon Tembreull's (Vergennes, VT) ground out. With two outs, Matt Doherty (Gardner, MA) launched a pitch from Lesley starter Roy Lenhard over the left field fence, driving in Dunton in the process, to extend the Hornet lead to 3-0.
Meanwhile Lesley wasn't able to get anything going against Lyndon starter Carlos Rodriguez (La Mirada, CA). Rodriguez allowed only a second inning single to Payne Johnson and a leadoff single to Jacob Brown in the top of the fourth inning. He struck out five without walking a batter over five innings, before being relieved by Austin Bigelow.
Lesley finally got something going in the top of the sixth inning. Anthony Nyhuis worked Bigelow for a leadoff walk. After Moreno was hit by a pitch, Jacob Brown's sacrifice bunt advanced the runners. Grant Bazinet grounded into a fielder's choice to score Nyhuis, then a Martinez sacrifice fly brought home Moreno to make it a one-run game.
In the top of the seventh inning, Owen Finnegan was hit by a pitch to put the tying run on base. However with two outs, Bigelow picked Finnegan off to earn the save and give the Hornets the win. Rodriguez was the winning pitcher, while Lenhard took the loss.
The Hornets will go on the road this weekend for four-game NAC series against the University of Maine at Presque Isle. Doubleheaders both Saturday and Sunday will start at noon.
