MIDDLEBURY, Vt. — The Norwich baseball team returned north Tuesday afternoon for an intrastate matchup with Middlebury, falling to the Panthers in non-conference action.

Middlebury seized early momentum, pushing across three runs in the opening innings to take control of the contest. The Cadets responded in the fourth inning, erasing the deficit to tie the game.

John O'Connor (Southington, Conn.) and Kyle Tanis (Shelburne, Vt.) worked back-to-back walks to start the rally before both runners were moved into scoring position with a sacrifice. Jack Medhurst (Thousand Oaks, Calif.) followed with another walk to load the bases for Isaac Maldonado (Miami, Fla.), who delivered a clutch two-out single to center field to plate two runs and cut the deficit to one.

Moments later, Medhurst came home on a failed pickoff attempt at first base, tying the game at 3-3.

The Panthers regained the lead in the fifth inning with a six-run frame and added an insurance run in the seventh to pull away.

Michael Sabasteanski (Ashburn, Va.) led the Cadets offensively with a 2-for-4 performance, while O'Connor and Dominic Dumont (North Berwick, Maine) each drew two walks.

On the mound, Adam Gwarjanski (Minot, Maine), Peter Idleman (Mequon, Wis.), and Hunter Lohrli (Wilmington, N.C.) combined for a strong effort out of the bullpen, allowing just two runs over the final 3.2 innings.

Norwich returns to action this weekend when the Cadets travel to Boston for a non-conference doubleheader against Wentworth. First pitch is scheduled for 12 p.m.