CASTLETON, Vt. – Castleton State College swept a North Atlantic Conference (NAC) softball doubleheader from Johnson State College Friday afternoon, winning game one 16-2 and taking the nightcap 10-2, both in five innings.

With game one tied at two-all, Castleton scored 12 runs on the strength of three home runs in the third inning to break the game open. Tori Fearon (Colchester, Conn.) walked to lead off the inning and Mercedes Maltbie (Warrensburg, N.Y.) followed with her seventh home run of the season, a laser over the left field fence. A walk and an error put two on for Julie Benzenberg (Pine Bush, N.Y.) who struck a towering drive to left field for her eighth homer of the year. Two more walks, sandwiched around a single from Hannah Greene (Rutland, Vt.) loaded the bases for Fearon who smacked a run-scoring single to center field and chased Johnson State starter Caitlin Mackey (St. Albans, Vt.). Maltbie then singled for a pair of RBI, and after a fielder's choice Shannon Jipner (Bristol, Vt.) crushed her 12th home run of the season, a three-run shot to left-centerfield.

Johnson State scratched out an unearned run in the first and third innings off Castleton starter Taylor Lively (Greenfield, Mass.), but the sophomore proved unhittable for much of the contest. Lively finished with the complete game win, striking out 11 while walking just one and allowing two hits.  

Maltbie finished 3-for-4 with four RBI and two runs scored, while Fearon was 3-for-3 with a triple, three RBI and three runs scored.

Samantha Pothier (Enosburg Falls, Vt.) had an RBI-single and Amber McCullock (Morrisville, Vt.) had a bunt single to lead the Badger offense.

In the nightcap Castleton scored 10 runs on 15 hits, including home runs from Jipner and Benzenberg to earn the win.

Fearon wrapped up a perfect day at the plate, going 4-for-4 with a triple, two RBI and two runs scored. Jipner was 3-for-3 with a solo home run, a double, two RBI and two runs scored while Benzenberg had a pair of hits including a three-run home run and four RBI.

Emily Sweeney (Weare, N.H.) earned the win, allowing two runs on eight hits and no walks with four strikeouts.

Morgan Rogerson (Hardwick, Vt.) had a pair of RBI-doubles and Pothier went 3-for-3 with two runs scored to pace the Badger offense.

Castleton has secured the fourth seed in the upcoming NAC Softball Tournament and will take on the fifth seed (still to be determined) at home on April 26 in quarterfinal round action.

Johnson State is scheduled to wrap up its regular season with a non-conference doubleheader on April 29 at New England College.