Newport News, VA-The Castleton State College baseball team opened the 2007 season with a split in Newport News winning the first game 9-2, and dropping the nightcap 9-3.

Castleton pounded out 13 hits in the 9-2 win and received four innings of shut-out pitching from starter Ken Cook who earned his first collegiate win. Shwan Horvath led the offense with a 2-3 afternoon, driving in three runs. Jon Handy, Travis Bass and Anthony DiPietrantonio each had a pair of hits and drove in one run to help aid the offense.

In the nightcap Castleton scored single runs in the first, third and sixth innings, but the Builders would use a pair of four-run innings to salvage the split. Craig Brogen started and took the loss for the Spartans, who are now 1-1 on the young season. Phil Puleo doubled and scored one run, while Billy Bruneau, Chris Ragis and Kyle Brooks each had RBI singles.

Castleton returns to action tomorrow at Christopher Newport University.