LYNDONVILLE, Vt. – The Husson University baseball team swept a North Atlantic Conference doubleheader against Vermont State Lyndon on Tuesday afternoon, earning an 11-0 shutout victory in game one before rallying for a 12-8 win in extra innings in game two.
Game 1: Husson 11, VTSU Lyndon 0
In the opener, Husson (16-16, 14-5 NAC) broke through in the third inning and then erupted for seven runs in the fourth to take full control. After sophomore Yates Emerson and senior Colin Marshall reached base, freshman Preston Libby delivered an RBI single to open the scoring. The fourth inning saw the Eagles string together quality at-bats, capitalizing on traffic and defensive miscues. Libby added a two-run single before junior Matt Holmes delivered the big blow with a three-run home run to left field, extending the lead to 8-0.
Husson continued to tack on runs throughout the game, adding one in the fifth, one in the sixth, and another in the seventh. Freshman John Hanlon drove in a run with an RBI single in the fifth, while Holmes added another RBI knock in the sixth. Libby capped the scoring in the seventh with an RBI single.
The Eagles finished with 17 hits in the game, led by Libby's 3-for-5, four-RBI performance. Holmes drove in four runs, while freshman Liam Kelley added three hits and Emerson scored three times.
On the mound, senior Cam Rendell was dominant, tossing a complete-game one-hit shutout. The right-hander struck out seven and allowed just three walks to earn his first win of the season.
Game 2: Husson 12, VTSU Lyndon 8 (8 Innings)
Game two required late-game heroics, as Husson (17-16, 15-5 NAC) rallied from an early deficit to complete the sweep in a back-and-forth contest.
After Vermont State Lyndon (15-20, 11-9 NAC) jumped out to an 8-4 lead through four innings, highlighted by a five-run third inning, the Eagles chipped away. Husson began the comeback in the sixth inning when Holmes doubled home a run to cut the deficit to 8-5.
The Eagles continued to apply pressure in the seventh inning. Senior Hunter Curtis sparked the rally with a solo home run, and later in the frame, Libby delivered a clutch two-run double with two outs to tie the game at 8-8.
After holding Lyndon scoreless in the bottom of the seventh, Husson completed the comeback in the eighth inning. The Eagles took advantage of defensive miscues and timely hitting, beginning with senior Joe Hamelin's RBI single to give Husson the lead. A sacrifice fly from Emerson extended the advantage, and Husson added two more runs on a wild pitch and an RBI single from Marshall to push the lead to 12-8.
Out of the bullpen, junior Ryan Garner shut the door, tossing two scoreless innings while allowing just one hit to earn the win. Sophomore Noah Hurd also provided key middle relief to keep Husson within striking distance.
Offensively, Libby led the way again with three RBIs, while Holmes collected three hits and Curtis added a home run and two runs scored. Marshall contributed two hits and two RBIs in the win.
The Eagles conclude the regular season on Saturday and Sunday at the University of Maine-Presque Isle with doubleheaders beginning at 12 p.m. each day.
