Fanklin, MA -The Castleton State College baseball team split a conference doubleheader with Becker College winning the opener 9-2 and falling in the nightcap 7-6 at Dean College.

The Spartans plated four runs in the first inning and four more in the seventh to cruise to their 11th victory of the season in game one.

Jeremy Gilcris went the distance, allowing six hits and one earned run while striking out three in the win.

The top-three in Castleton's order did most of the damage as Travis Bass, Tim Zorio and Phil Puleo combined to go 6-11 with five runs scored. Bass tripled and scored a pair and Puleo had two doubles, two RBI and two runs scored. Chris Ragis and Jon Handy each had one hit and two RBI for 11-8 (3-0 NAC) Castleton.

In the nightcap Castleton jumped out to a 3-0 lead after the third inning, but the Hawks scored six unanswered in the bottom of the third and fourth innings. Castleton got on back in the top of the fifth but Becker once again answered with what proved to be the game winner in the bottom of the inning.

Castleton's rally in the seventh inning came up one run short. The game ended with Handy stranded on second after driving in a pair of runs with a double.

Tom Cummings took the loss, tossing the complete game and allowing four earned runs (three unearned), while striking out six.

Puleo was 2 for 3 with a solo homerun and a run-scoring single. Ragis collected a pair of doubles and drove in one.

Castleton is back in action on Tuesday when they host a non-conference twinbill versus Norwich Unviersity at 2:00 pm.