Castleton, VT – The Castleton State College baseball team stretched their winning streak to nine games, sweeping a non-league doubleheader from Lyndon State 4-2 and 4-2. With the sweep Castleton improves to 20-9, while Lyndon State falls to 5-13.

In the opener, freshman Craig Borgen tossed six strong innings, allowing four hits and two earned while striking out six in the win. Jeremy Gilcris came on and pitched a perfect seventh to nail down the save.

Matt Picard took the loss for Lyndon State, tossing all six inning, allowing four earned on five hits while striking out two and walking three.

Castleton plated two runs in the first inning, and single runs in the third and fourth and hung on for the win. Lauck Blake walked, and Billy Bruneau was hit by a pitch to start things off in the first. After a Jon Handy ground-out, a Lyndon State passed ball scored Blake, followed by a Chris Ragis RBI single for the two-run lead.

Blake led off the third with a ringing double to right field, and was driven home on a Jon Handy double. Kyle Brooks led off the fourth with a single and after two outs was driven home by a Travis Bass double.

The Hornets got two runs back in the sixth when Borgen ran into his only real trouble of the afternoon. Dylan Barton walked to lead things off, and Rob Malloy roped a double over the head of Ragis in centerfield. With Barton on third and Malloy at second Borgen was called for a balk, scoring Barton. Borgen got Jesse Hersey to ground back to the pitcher, then gave up an RBI single to Jordan Royer for the final run of Lyndon State's inning.

Royer finished 2 for 3 to lead the Hornets and the only member of either team to collect multiple hits.

In the nightcap, Matt Tuthill tossed five innings allowing two earned on three hits while striking out six and walking two. Ken Cook tossed a pair of perfect innings to finish with the save.

Jordan Royer pitched the complete game for Lyndon State, allowing four runs (two earned) on seven hits, while striking out six and walking one.

The Spartans once again jumped out to an early lead, scoring a pair in the first and single runs in the second and third innings to earn their 12 th victory in their last 13 games.

Travis Bass led off the game with a walk, stole second and was singled home by senior Phil Puleo. Puleo took second on the play at the plate and moved to third on a passed ball before being singled home by Chris Ragis.

Eric Anderson led off the second with a single and was doubled home by Tim Zorio for the third Spartan run. In the third Puleo reached second on an outfield error, stole third, and scored when the catcher's throw sailed into leftfield.

Dylan Barton scored Lyndon State's first run after he reached first on a Tuthill walk and was doubled home by Ryan Wimble. Wimble would later score on Rob Malloy's RBI ground-out.

With the sweep Castleton reaches 20 wins for the second-consecutive year and fourth time in six years. The only years they did not during the stretch (2003 and 2005) they won 19.

The Spartans have a big conference weekend on the horizon as they travel to Maine to take on Husson College on Saturday and St. Joseph's College on Sunday. Castleton is currently tied atop the NAC standings with St. Joe's at 7-1, while Husson is in second at 6-2.

*Notes Travis Bass extended his hitting streak to 13 games, the freshman shortstop has hit safely in 26 out of 29 games….Phil Puleo has hit in 15 straight games.