LONGVIEW, Texas – The Castleton State College baseball team opened its season with a 13-5 loss to LeTourneau University Saturday afternoon, after the YellowJackets erupted for nine runs in the bottom of the fifth inning.

Castleton (0-1) held a 4-2 lead after a run-scoring groundout by Shawn Kennedy (Schenectady, N.Y.) and a sacrifice fly from Matt Eisenhuth (South Newfane, Vt.) broke a 2-2 tie in the top of the fifth inning.

In the bottom of the fifth LeTourneau (4-3) answered with nine runs (six earned), as eight-straight batters reached after the Spartans retired the leadoff man. Patience at the plate paid off for the YellowJackets in the fifth inning, as three consecutive runs came home on walks and hit batsmen. Three additional runs came home when Dustin Varnado (Gilmer, Texas) reached base on a three-base throwing error.

Garrett Methvin (Longview, Texas) made his first start of the season on the mound and pitched four innings, striking out five batters. He also knocked a two-run home run in the eighth inning as the designated hitter and collected four RBIs in the win.

Drew Sharp (Frisco, Texas) scored twice and knocked two base hits in addition to driving in a run for the YellowJackets.

Nate Tomaszewski (Dove Canyon, Calif.) and Chris Bertram (Friendswood, Texas) also collected two hits and an RBI apiece in the game.

Ryan Zielinski (Schenectady, N.Y.) and Jack Lancelin (Chatham, N.Y.) each collected three hits for the Spartan offense, while freshman Zak Mayo (Avon, Conn.) and Eisenhuth each had two.