LYNDONVILLE, Vt. – The Husson University baseball team split a North Atlantic Conference doubleheader with Vermont State University Lyndon on Saturday afternoon at Skip Pound Field, earning an 18-4 victory in game one before falling 9-8 in game two.
Game 1: Husson 18, VTSU Lyndon 4
The Eagles (10-14, 9-4 NAC) used a balanced offensive attack and multiple big innings to secure a decisive win in the opener. Husson first got on the board in the second inning, taking advantage of defensive miscues as sophomore Yates Emerson delivered an RBI single that brought home two runs to give the Eagles a 2-0 lead.
After Lyndon (9-16, 5-6 NAC) answered with three runs in the bottom half of the inning, Husson responded immediately in the third. Freshman Liam Kelley launched a two-run home run to left field, scoring junior Matt Holmes and putting the Eagles back in front at 4-3.
Husson added to its lead in the fourth inning when Holmes doubled to left field to score senior Colin Marshall, extending the advantage to 5-3.
The Eagles created separation in the sixth inning, capitalizing on another defensive miscue. Marshall reached on an error and later scored on a fielder's choice by Holmes, before Kelley followed with an RBI double to plate Holmes and make it 7-4.
Husson broke the game open in the seventh inning with a six-run outburst. Freshman Wes Piper started the scoring with a two-run home run, the first of his collegiate career, before senior Cam Rendell added a sacrifice fly. Holmes then delivered the biggest blow of the inning with a three-run home run, pushing the lead to 13-4.
The Eagles added five more runs in the ninth inning to cap the scoring. Kelley brought in a run with a sacrifice fly, freshman Andrew Cote followed with an RBI single, Piper launched his second two-run home run of the game, and freshman Preston Libby added an RBI single to complete the 18-run performance.
Holmes led the offensive effort with four hits and five RBIs, while Kelley added three hits and four RBIs. Piper drove in four runs with two home runs, and Emerson, Rendell, and Libby each contributed RBIs in the win.
On the mound, sophomore Chris Lusignan earned the win, allowing four runs over five innings, while sophomore Noah Hurd closed out the game with four scoreless innings in relief.
Game 2: VTSU Lyndon 9, Husson 8
Husson (10-15, 9-5 NAC) jumped out to an early lead in game two, scoring in the second inning when Piper drove in a run with a single that also resulted in an error, allowing sophomore Trevor Poisson to score.
The Eagles extended their lead in the fourth inning when sophomore Jackson Lizzotte blasted a two-run home run, his first in the green and gold, to score junior Henry Lausier and make it 3-0.
After Lyndon (10-16, 6-6 NAC) tied the game in the bottom half of the inning, Husson responded with a four-run fifth inning. Rendell delivered an RBI single before Holmes launched a three-run home run to give the Eagles a 7-3 advantage.
The Hornets answered with two runs in the fifth and a four-run sixth inning to take a 9-7 lead. Husson attempted to rally in the seventh inning as Rendell connected on a solo home run to cut the deficit to one, but the Eagles were unable to complete the comeback.
Rendell led Husson with three hits in game two, while Holmes and Lizzotte each drove in multiple runs.
Husson will look to bounce back as it continues North Atlantic Conference play tomorrow against Lyndon, as the teams wrap up a four-game set with a doubleheader beginning at 12 p.m.
