Lyndonville, VT - The Vermont State University Lyndon baseball team rebounded from a wild loss in game one of today's North Atlantic Conference doubleheader by picking up a commanding win in the nightcap. With the split the Hornets moved to 16-21 overall and 12-10 in conference play. Lyndon also clinched the program's first NAC playoff berth since 2019. UMaine-Farmington is now 12-25 overall and 8-14 in the NAC.
Game 1 - UMaine-Farmington 16, VTSU Lyndon 14
With UMF leading, 2-0, the Hornets plated eight runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to seemingly take control. Lyndon held a 12-4 advantage going into the top of the ninth inning when the Beavers exploded for 12 runs, highlighted by a pair of grand slam home runs from Brady Vincent and Ike Wrigley. Lyndon scored twice and had the tying runs on base in the bottom of the ninth but UMF escaped with the win.
Lucas Harmon hit a pair of two-run home runs for the Beavers. Wrigley finished with five runs batted in and Matt Marquis drove in a pair.
Ryan Alt (Poultney, VT) and Matt Gonyeau (St. Albans, VT) were both three for five at the plate for Lyndon. Sean Dunton (Quechee, VT) had a pair of hits and four runs batted in and Cesar Cisneros (National City, CA) notched a single and a double and drove in three.
Kaleb Hussey, the third of four UMF pitchers, picked up the win, while Tyler Kimball (Vergennes, VT) was tagged with the loss in relief.
Game 2 - VTSU Lyndon 10, UMaine-Farmington 1
Game two was a different story for the Beaver bats. After 16 runs, 12 hits, and four home runs in the opener, Lyndon ace Carlos Rodriguez (La Mirada, CA) silenced the Beavers in the nightcap. Rodriguez went the distance, allowing only four hits and striking out six batters without yielding a walk.
The Hornets provided Rodriguez with all of the support he needed in the bottom of the third inning. Aaron LeFrancois (Rutland, VT) got things started with a one out single. After Cisneros drew a walk, Dunton and Eyon Tembreull were hit by pitches to push across LeFrancois with the first run of the game. Back to back base hits from Tredell Blow (Yorktown, VA) and Matt Doherty (Gardner, MA) and a sacrifice fly from Alt quickly extended the Hornet lead to 5-0.
The Beavers were able to get on the board in the top of the fourth inning but Lyndon put any doubt about the outcome to rest with five more runs in the bottom of the sixth.
Blow had a two-run home run and a single for three runs batted in. Doherty also had two hits and drove in two while Tembreull produced a two-run double.
Rodriguez picked up his fifth win of the season. UMF starter Jameson Bloch took the loss.
Prior to Saturday's games, Lyndon honored its seniors and grad students: Doherty, Alt, Rodriguez, Gonyeau, Isaiah Gutierrez (Nashua, NH), Mike Redmond (Plantation, FL), Keegan Stephenson (Lander, WY), Nathan Bigelow (East Hampton, CT), and Ian Hedgepeth (Norwich, VT). The players were presented with tokens of appreciation for thier contributions to Lyndon baseball and joined on the field by family members and friends.
The Hornets and Beavers will conclude their series and the regular season with another doubleheader on Sunday afternoon. First pitch is scheduled for 12:00 noon.. The Hornets will then turn their attention to the NAC Championship Tournament. The double elimination event will begin on Thursday at the home field of the regular season champion. Details will be released by the conference office following the conclusion of all conference games.
