Harwich, MA-The eighth-seeded Castleton State College baseball team fell in the opening round of the NCAA Division III New England Regional 9-5 to top-seed Trinity College. With the win the Bantams improve to 38-0 and will take on fifth-seed, Western New England College in second round action Thursday afternoon at 4:30 pm. Castleton falls to 22-19 with the loss and will take on fourth-seed, Southern Maine Thursday morning at 9:30 am, and will look to keep their tournament alive through the losers' bracket.

Castleton jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning when Brad Polcare led off with a single, stole second and scored on Dan Conley's rbi-double. Spartan starter, Mat Tuthill worked his way in and out of trouble during the first two innings, but could not escape in the third as the Bantams evened the score at 1-1. Jack Abbott led off the inning with a walk, moved to second on a ground out and scored on an rbi-single by Kent Graham.

Trinity grabbed another run in the bottom of the fourth to make it 2-1, but the Spartans answered in the top of the fifth with two runs of their own. The lead would be short-lived, however as Trinity answered with three runs in the bottom of the inning to make it 5-3.

Tuthill pitched five-and-one-third innings, allowing five runs (two earned) on six hits and seven walks while striking out one in taking the loss.

Trailing 6-4 in the top of the eighth Castleton's Chris Ragis and Ted Mills led the inning off with singles to chase Trinity starter, Michael Regan. The Spartans could not push a run across, however, as Jeremiah Bayer was able to work come on and shut the door.

Regan earned the win pitching seven-plus innings, allowing four runs (one earned) on eight hits, two walks and four strikeouts.

Chandler Barnard led the Bantams with a 3-for-5 performance and three RBI. Thomas DiBenedetto reached base five times on a pair of hits and three walks. DiBenedetto scored four runs and had one RBI.

Conley had two hits and one RBI for the Spartans, and Kevin McPeek added two hits and two runs scored.