Castleton, VT - Amanda Gerstenmaier smacked a solo homerun in the opener and scored the game-winning run in the bottom of the eighth inning of the nightcap as Castleton swept SUNY-Cobleskill in a non-league softball doubleheader on Thursday afternoon. Castleton took the opener 1-0 and won the second game 5-4 to even its record to 9-9 overall, while Cobleskill falls to 4-11.
Game One: Gerstenmaier blasted a sixth inning solo homerun that proved to be all Castleton starting pitcher, Hilary Bemis needed in the 1-0 win. Bemis struck out 10 in earning the complete-game shutout, allowing just a seventh inning double by freshman Jillian Serraro.
Castleton had runners at second third in the fifth inning, but Cobleskill starting pitcher Danielle Lichwick was able to pick up a strikeout to end the threat. Lichwick went the distance in the loss scattering six hits while striking out four and walking none.
Game Two: Siobhan Whittemore smacked a single to centerfield and Gerstenmaier came around to score on a subsequent throwing error to provide Castleton with the walk-off win.
Cobleskill appeared to have scored a run of its own in the top of the eighth, but Nicole Garzon was ruled to have left early after tagging up on third base on Elizabeth Goyette's fly out to leftfield. Garzon was called out on appeal, and the game remained tied at 4-4.
The Tigers took a 3-1 lead in the top of the third inning rbi-singles from Juliann Mandy and Kristine Gardner that plated Danielle Swarm and Serraro. Serraro went 3-for-4 with one run batted in to lead the Tiger offense. The freshman hurler also took the loss, allowing five runs (two earned) on nine hits and one walk while striking out four.
Alicia Zraunig led the Spartan attack, going 2-for-4 with a double and three runs scored. Heather Alley had a pair of singles and one rbi, while Whittemore added a pair of singles in her only two at bats after entering in the fifth.
Tosha Whittemore picked up the win, going all eight innings, allowing four earned on 11 hits and three strikeouts.
Castleton returns to North Atlantic Conference action this weekend as the Spartans host Maine Maritime Academy Saturday at 1:00 pm and Husson University Sunday at 12 noon. The Spartans will be "Getting Outs for the Cure" over the weekend. Fans are encouraged to join the Spartan Softball team and wear pink in the fight against breast cancer. T-shirts will be sold at $10 per shirt along with a 50/50 raffle. Proceeds will be donated to the Susan G. Komen Foundation.
