Lyndonville, VT - The Vermotn state University Lyndon softball season came to an end in an unusual manner on Sunday, as the Hornets hosted the State University of New York at Cobleskill in a rare triple header. The First two contests were North Atlantic Conference games, while the final game was a non-conference contest. Unfortunately for the Hornets, the visiting Fighting Tigers swept all three games to improve to 21-19 on the season and 10-6 in the NAC. Lyndon closed the season with a 2-23 overall record and an 0-16 mark in conference play.
Game 1 - SUNY Cobleskill 27, VTSU Lyndon 1
Leading 3-1 after one inning, Cobleskill errupted for 17 runs in the top of the second inning and rolled to the win in the opener. The Tigers pounded out 23 hits, led by Taegyn Hart, who was five for five with three runs batted in and four runs scored. Avrey Prievo was four for four at the dish, driving in four runs and scoring three.Sammy Fausti, Jillian Jensen, and Juila Barrieau each drove in three runs.
Lyndon scored its run in the bottom of the first inning when Ella Huntington (Taylorsville, UT) led off with a single, stole second, moved to third on a wild pitch, and scored on Lindsey Gannon's (Beverly, MA) base hit. Those were the only Hornet hits, as Jensen, the Tiger starting pitcher, stifled the Hornet bats the rest of the way.
Jensen earned the win in the circle, striking out four against two walks over five innings. Sarah Collier (Hardwick, VT) started and took the loss for Lyndon.
Game 2 - SUNY Cobleskill 24, VTSU Lyndon 0
The Tigers were again in control from the start, as they plated five runs in the first inning and ten more in the second. Hart again led the offense, notching a triple, two singles, four runs batted in, and three runs scored. Mackenzie Carver was three for four with two RBIs and three runs scored. Kylie Rattigan had a single and a double with three RBIs and three runs scored.
Huntington had two of Lyndon's five hits. Collier, Gannon, and Megan Richardson (Essex Junction, VT) had the other base knocks for the Hornets.
Cobleskill starter Sam Lawton picked up the win, striking out 13 without walking a batter over five innings. Collier again took the loss.
Game 3 - SUNY Cobleskill 16, VTSU Lyndon 4
The Tigers cruised to the win in the non-conference game as well, jumping out to a 12-0 lead. Rattigan was four for five with three runs scored and Avery Prievo was three for four with four runs scored. Aliyah Neeser had a single and a double, driving in four runs and scoreing twice. Lawton was three for four with four RBIs and Julia Barrieau was three for three.
The Hornets were able to generate a little more offense. Huntington got the Hornets on the board with a home run leading off the third inning. Lyndon then took advantage of a couple of Cobleskill miscues to add two unearned runs in the same frame. The Hornets picked up one more run in the home fifth when Gannon singled with two outs, then Kazandra Gonzalez (Norwalk, CA) walked. Chloe Murphy (Manchester, NH) singled, driving in Gannon.
Gannon had three hits in her final game as a Hornet. Normally a catcher, she also made her first appearance as a pitcher, going the distance in the circle but unfortunately absorbing the loss. Aracely Delgado-Juarez (LaBelle, FL) and Kacie Nelson (St. Johnsbury, VT) had the other Lyndon hits.
Jaydaci Chamberlain went the distance for Cobleskill and earned the win. She allowed two earned runs and seven hits while striking out two and walking two.
Lyndon will graduate Gannon, Gonzalez, Huntington, and Morgan Doolan (Lancaster, NH), but is expected to return the remainder of the roster to form the foundation of next season's team.
