Presque Isle, ME - Baseball great Yogi Berra once said "It's déjà vu all over again." That phrase could easily apply to the Vermont State University Lyndon baseball team in their weekend North Atlantic Conference series at the University of Maine at Presque Isle. Just as they did on Saturday, the Hornets won the opening game of Sunday's doubleheader and were one strike away from dropping the night cap before rallying for a victory and the sweep. Lyndon ended the weekend 15-17 overall and 11-7 in NAC play, while UMPI fell to 7-22 on the season and 5-15 in conference.
Game 1 - VTSU Lyndon 4, UMaine-Presque Isle 0
Less than 24 hours after closing out Saturday's nightcap, left hander Carlos Rodriguez (La Mirada, CA) was dominant. Rodriguez tossed a complete game five hit shutout, striking out five in the process while only walking one batter.
The Hornets provided Rodriguez with all of the support he needed in the top of the first inning. After Cesar Cisneros (National City, CA) started things with a leadoff single, Sean Dunton (Quechee, VT) drew a walk. Cisneros then moved to third when Eyon Tembreull (Vergennes, VT) flied out and scored on a wild pitch. Tredell Blow (Yorktown, VA) then walked, and Dunton came home on an Owl error. Ryan Alt (Poultney, VT) doubled in Blow to make the score 3-0, Lyndon.
The Hornets tacked on an unearned insurance run in the fifth inning, but UMPI was unable to break through against Rodriguez as the Hornets took the opener.
Diego Maldonado went the distance for the Owls and was tagged with the loss. He allowed only one earned run and five hits.
Game 2 - VTSU Lyndon 9, UMine-Presque Isle 5 - 8 innings
After Tembreull's fourth inning two-run home run gave Lyndon a 2-1 lead, the Owls responded with a three-run fifth to move in front, 4-2. Maldonado drew a leadoff walk, moved to second on an errant pickoff attempt, and scored on Aiden Toy's base hit. Mason Long singled and Ronnie Golmon walked to load the bases, then Hector Perez singled, driving in two runs to give the Owls a 4-2 lead.
The Hornets still trailed by two in the top of the seventh inning. Tembreull reached on an error leading off, then after Blow hit into a fielder's choice, Alt's single put runners at the corners. Pinch runner Michael Matsi (Las Vegas, NV) replaced Alt, then with two outs Jeren Harrison (Charlotte, NC) lifted a shot over the center fielder's head for a double, scoring both runners and tying the game. Pinch hitter Matt Gonyeau (St. Albans, VT) followed with another double to put Lyndon in front, 5-4.
The Owls were able to square things in the bottom of the seventh inning. Sammy Bay led off with a single, moved to second on Golman's sacrifice bunt, moved to third on a wild pitch, and scored on Perez's sacrifice fly, sending the game into extra innings.
Dunton got the Hornets going in the top of the eighth inning with a one out single. He moved to third on a pair of passed balls as Tembreull drew a walk.Blow followed with a base hit, scoring Dunton to put Lyndon back in front. Matt Doherty (Gardner, MA) then launched a three-run home run opver the left field fence to extend the Hornet advantage to 9-5.
Hornet reliever Keegan Stephenson (Lander, WY) retired the Owls in the bottom of the eighth to give Lyndon the victory. Stephenson earned the win with 3.1 innings of relief, yielding one run on three hits. UMPI starter Garrett Chadwick took the loss.
The Hornets will host Fisher College in a Tuesday non-conference game. First pitch is scheduled for 3:00 pm.
