Castleton, VT – Freshman Taylor Lively (Greenfield, MA) struck out eight batters allowing only one earned run over seven innings pitched in game one and Kay LaBrie (Somersworth, NH) went 4-for-5 with three runs scored and two RBI in game two as the Castleton State College softball team split a doubleheader against non-conference opponent, Plymouth St., 4-3 and 9-4, on Tuesday afternoon.
The Spartans move to 10-13 overall on the season. The Panthers are 7-12 overall.
In game one, Lively improved to 4-2 overall on the season giving up six hits, three runs (one earned) and no walks. Ali Keith (Northfield, NH) was dealt the loss on six innings pitched, 10 hits, four runs (all earned), two walks and seven strikeouts.
Plymouth St. opened up the scoring in the top of the first as Heather Blasé (Milford, NH) plated teammate Allie Luisi (No. Kingstown, RI), who reached on a fielding error, with a RBI double to right field for a 1-0 lead. After Lively struck out Kortney Nedeau (Kennebunk, ME), Andrea Pydynkowski (Danvers, MA) followed with a double to deep left centerfield scoring Blasé for a 2-0 gap. Both runs were unearned in the inning.
Castleton cut the lead in half in the bottom of the second as Hilary Bemis (Crown Point, NY) led off with a single to left field. Right fielder Abbey Hewes (Salt Lake City, UT) followed with a RBI double to left field to make it 2-1.
The Spartans took the lead in the bottom of the fourth scoring two runs in the frame.
With one out, Bemis earned a walk fighting off several pitches at the plate. Hewes followed by picking up her second RBI of the game with an opposite field double to the right center to even the score at 2-2. After Hewes advanced to third base on the throw that tried to prevent Bemis from scoring, first baseman Sarah Flore (Springfield, VT) roped a single to left field for a 3-2 lead.
In the top of the fifth, Luisi made it 3-3 with a sac fly to left field scoring LaBrie.
Castleton manufactured the game-winning run in the bottom half as shortstop Megan Blongy (Rutland, VT) singled to lead off the frame, advanced to second on a ground out and was driven home by Bemis on a single through the left side of the infield.
Offensively, Blongy was 2-for-4 at the plate with one run scored for the Spartans. Bemis went 2-for-2 with two runs scored and one RBI, Hewes was 2-for-2 at the plate with two runs driven in and one run and Flore was 2-for-3 at the plate with a RBI.
Left fielder Jenn Bove (Medford, MA) had the Panthers only multi-hit performance at the plate with a 2-for-3 day.
In game two, Diana Bean (Danvers, MA) earned the win throwing six-and-two-thirds innings allowing nine hits, four runs (three earned) one walk and five strikeouts. Emily Sweeney (Weare, NH) suffered the loss throwing all seven innings, giving up 14 hits, nine runs (seven earned), two walks and two strikeouts.
Tied 3-3 in the top of the sixth, the Panthers offense broke the game open with a three-run outburst.
Bove drove in a run with a RBI groundout, LaBrie tripled in the inning and was plated by Luisi with a single to left field and Nedeau notched an RBI single to left field for a 6-3 lead.
In the top of the seventh inning, LaBrie was the catalyst to another three-run inning smashing a double to left field knocking in two runs. Luisi plated LaBrie from second with an RBI double to deep left field to take a 9-3 lead.
Hewes homered in the bottom of the seventh, her first of the season, to left field to push it closer at 9-4.
Offensively for Plymouth St., Luisi went 2-for-5 with two RBI and a run scored. Nedeau was 2-for-4 at the plate with two RBI and a run scored including a solo home run in the top of the third inning to centerfield. Shortstop Amy Green was 2-for-3 with a run scored out of the eighth slot as well.
For Castleton, Julie Benzenberg (Pine Bush, NY) went 2-for-3 at the plate with an RBI single. Designated player Shannon Jipner (Bristol, VT) went 3-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored.
The Spartans return to action tomorrow, on the road, against Lyndon St. in North Atlantic Conference (NAC) play with game one starting at 3:30 p.m.
