Castleton, VT - Thomas College Freshman Kelsey Crowe (Gorham, ME) picked up a pair of wins, earning the complete game win in a 7-0 game one win, and picking up the win in relief in the 6-5 extra inning night cap. With the wins Thomas improves to 9-8 overall and 2-0 in North Atlantic Conference (NAC) play. Castleton falls to 7-12, 0-2.
GAME ONE: Crowe struck out 10 and walked just one while scattering five hits en route to the complete game shutout in the opener. Crowe allowed multiple base runners in just the fourth inning, and never had a Spartan reach third base in the win.
The top of the Terrier lineup did much of the damage as the 1-through-4 batters went a combined 9-for-17, driving in five runs and scoring four. Alexandra Kriegel (Winslow, ME) and Mallorie Blakney (Fairfield, ME) each went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and Samantha Moore (Etna, ME) went 2-for-5 with three RBI to pace the offense.
For the Spartans, Shannon Jipner (Bristol, VT) had a pair of hits to lead the way.
Thomas jumped out to an early 1-0 lead as Kriegel led off with a walk, moved to second on a bunt single from Blakney and came around to score on a Moore double to centerfield. The Terriers tacked on an unearned run in the third, and scored once again in the third when Blakney singled and later came around to score on an Anika Powers (Stonington, ME) single to rightfield.
A costly error in the fifth inning opened the door to four more unearned runs for the Terriers, with Moore providing a two-run double to leftfield.
Hilary Bemis (Crown Point, NY) was tagged with the loss for Castleton allowing seven runs (two earned) on 11 hits and five walks while striking out five.
GAME TWO: Castleton rallied for three runs in the bottom of the seventh to force the extra frame, but Crowe was able to stymie the Spartan bats just enough to hang on for the win.
Kriegel had two hits and two RBI, and Samantha Moore socked a solo homerun and scored two runs in the nightcap to lead the Terrier offense. Kaymala Eels (Otisfield, ME) went 2-for-3, scored twice and drove in one to aid the attack.
Megan Blongy (Rutland, VT) led Castleton with a 3-for-3 day at the plate, while Bemis went 2-for-3 with one run and two RBI.
After Moore's homerun in the top of the seventh made it 5-2, Castleton rallied for three runs, to force the extra inning. Caylee Fluery (Barre, VT) walked to lead off the inning. Blongy sacrificed her to second, but an errant throw put the runners on first and third. Bemis delivered an rbi-single, and took on the attempt to gun down Blongy at third. After Thomas called upon Crowe, Abbey Hewes (Salt Lake City, UT) delivered a two-run triple down the rightfield line to tie the game. After intentionally walking the bases loaded, Crowe was able to work out of the jam.
The Terriers grabbed the game-winning run in the bottom of the eighth inning on an rbi-single down the leftfield line by Kriegel.
Castleton had a chance of its own in the bottom of the inning, but could not score the winning run from third.
Castleton starter Emily Sweeney (Weare, NH) took the loss, going eight innings and allowing six runs (three earned) on nine hits and five walks while striking out seven.
Thomas starter Sara Pavento (Glenburn, ME) worked six innings, allowing five runs (three earned) on eight hits and one walk while striking out three. Crowe took the win, throwing a pair of shutout innings, allowing two hits, three walks (two intentional) and striking out one.
Both teams return to NAC action tomorrow with the Spartans playing host University of Maine-Farmington, and Thomas traveling to Green Mountain College. The Spartans will wear pink uniforms and socks in support of "Play for the Cure" to help support the Susan G. Komen Foundation, raising awareness and funds for breast cancer research.
