LYNDON CENTER, Vt. – Jeremy Rochleau’s RBI single in the bottom of the ninth plated Stetson Hicks with the game-winning run as Lyndon State managed a split of its North Atlantic Conference doubleheader with the University of Maine at Farmington Saturday at Skip Pound Field.
With the score tied at 4-4, Hicks singled to lead off the ninth for LSC and was bunted to second by Shane O’Donnell-Leach. That set the stage for Rochleau’s heroics, which lifted the Hornets to their first NAC win of the season. Hicks had three hits in the contest, while Zach Maerder and Tyler Blake added two each.
In the opener, UMF broke open a 5-5 tie with a five-run ninth inning rally to earn its first NAC victory of the season. Brian Jenkins had three hits to lead the Beavers while Russ Schmelzer and Kyle Shea chipped in two each. Bill Ridge got the win, allowing five earned runs on 11 hits while striking out 11 and walking three.
Maerder had three hits for the Hornets while Shawn Lonardelli and Ben Clark added two each. O’Donnell-Leach suffered the loss. He gave up four earned runs on nine hits while fanning three and walking two.
Lyndon State and UMF will close out their four-game set on Sunday with a twin bill that gets underway at noon.
