BANGOR, Maine – Top seed and host Husson University opened the 2026 North Atlantic Conference (NAC) Baseball Championship with a 3-2 victory, as Cam Rendell delivered a walk-off sacrifice fly to bring in the game-winning run. The Eagles advance to Friday’s winner’s bracket.
In what looked like a pitchers’ duel between Lyndon’s Carlos Rodriguez and Avery Lawrence, both starters went eight innings. Rodriguez struck out eight Husson batters, while Lawrence fanned seven Lyndon hitters. Neither Rodriguez nor Lawrence allowed a hit in the opening inning, and each surrendered just one in the second as both teams battled through the early frames in search of the game’s first run.
Lyndon struck first in the top of the third as Aaron LeFrancois singled up the middle before advancing into scoring position on a steal to second and a sacrifice bunt by Sean Dunton to get to third. Eyon Tembreull then delivered a sacrifice fly, with LeFrancois scoring on an obstruction call at the plate to give Lyndon a 1-0 lead.
The Eagles responded in the bottom half of the inning as Yates Emerson reached on a throwing error by the Hornets, advanced to second on the miscue, and moved to third on a wild pitch in the next at-bat before scoring. Colin Marshall then singled to left center to bring Emerson home and tie the game. Marshall later crossed the plate himself as Husson took a 2-1 lead after Preston Libby singled and back-to-back walks from Matt Holmes and Liam Kelly forced in another run.
After a scoreless fourth inning, Lyndon evened the game at 2-2 with LeFrancois again crossing the plate in a sequence similar to his earlier run. He singled, stole second, advanced on a hit by Cisneros, and ultimately scored on a sacrifice bunt RBI from Dunton.
The pitching and defensive efforts of both teams held strong, as neither side scored from the top of the sixth through the top of the ninth inning. Husson allowed just one hit during that stretch, while Lyndon surrendered only two.
In the bottom of the ninth, Husson’s Trevor Poisson drew a disciplined full-count walk. Emerson then laid down a sacrifice bunt, allowing pinch-runner Andrew Cote to advance into scoring position at third base. With one out, Cam Rendell delivered a sacrifice fly to center field, bringing Cote home and walking it off to send Husson into the winner’s bracket of the tournament.
Husson University Leaders:
- Liam Kelley: 2-for-3, 1 RBI, 1 BB
- Yates Emerson: 1-for-3, 1 R, SH
- Hunter Curtis: 1-for-3, 1 BB, 2B
- Cam Rendell: 1 RBI, 1 HBP, SF
- Colin Marshall: 1-for-5, 1 R, 1 RBI, SB
- Henry Lausier: 1-for-4, SB
- Avery Lawrence: 8 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 7 K, 3 BB
- Ryan Garner: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 ER
VTSU Lyndon Leaders:
- Cesar Cisneros: 2-for-3, 1 BB
- Aaron LeFrancois: 2-for-3, 2 R, 2 SB
- Matt Doherty: 1-for-4
- Eyon Tembreull: 1 RBI, 1 BB, SF
- Carlos Rodriguez: 8 IP, 7 H, 0 ER, 8 K, 3 BB, 2 WP, HBP