Saratoga Springs, NY – The Castleton State College softball team was swept by Skidmore College in non-league softball action, losing the opener 4-0 and falling in the nightcap 9-7. Castleton falls to 0-4 on the young season, while Skidmore improves to 7-5.
Game One - Tosha Whittemore went the distance, allowing four earned runs on seven hits and two walks, while striknig out four in the loss. Sophomore, Caitlin Ketcham smacked a solo homerun in the second inning to give Skidmore a 1-0 advantage. The Thoroughbreds added three more runs in the fifth when freshman Julie D'Aleo hit a two-run single to score Lauren Dinsdale and Shelly Anderson to go up 3-0. Pinch runner Lauren Tobias also scored when the throw got away from Castleton catcher Bridget Dusha.
Ketcham finished 2-for-2 in the first game with two runs scored and one RBI. Freshman pitcher Sam Crose picked up the shut-out scattering six hits while striking out seven.
Whittemore and Shannon Jipner each went 2-for-3 to lead the Spartans, whiel Dusha and Sarah Flore each added one hit apiece.
Game Two - Trailing 7-1 entering the seventh inning, Castleton rallied for six runs to tie the score, before Skidmore answered with a walk-off homerun in the bottom of the inning.
Bridget Dusha put the Spartans ahead in the top of the first inning, smacking a solo homerun to left field for the early 1-0 lead.
Skidmore was able to push across seven unanswered runs, two in the first, two in the third (all unearned) and three in the fifth to take a 7-1 lead. Lauren Dinsdale added the big blow in the rally, a two-run homerun to centerfield in the fifth inning.
Castleton's seventh inning came to life with one out, as Stephanie Wright (single), Heather Alley (walk) and Hannah Greene (single) all reached to load the bases. Alicia Zraunig then delivered a two-run double to cut the lead to 7-3. Mallory Mollison followed with an rbi-single and Bridget Dusha reached on a fielder's choice that retired Mollison. Shannon Jipner then stepped up and smacked a three-run homerun to tie the score at 7-7.
Dinsdale led of the Skidmore seventh and was quickly followed by a Ketcham walk-off homerun and the win.
Hilary Bemis took the loss for Castleton, going the distance, allowing five earned runs on seven hits and six walks while striking out five.
The Spartans are back in action on Monday, March 30 when they travel to RPI for a non-league doubleheader at 3:00.
