HAMPTON, VA. – Castleton managed five hits and two runs as they fell to 0-5 with a 7-2 loss against the Apprentice School to open a three-game swing at War Memorial Stadium Thursday night.

The Builders pushed a run across in the first as Chris Aldridge and Trevin Wilson opened the game with singles and advanced as Devorn Lake was hit by a pitch.  Andrew Hooper then grounded out to force out Lake and score Aldridge for an early 1-0 lead.

Castleton responded in the second as Macyn Clifford (Brookline, N.H.) rapped a one-single and after advancing to second on a groundout, was driven in on a single by Kyle O'Brey (Schenectady, N.Y.) to tie the score at one.

The Spartans took their only lead of the game an inning later when Ryan Zielinski (Schenectady, N.Y.) earned a leadoff walk and then stole second to get in scoring position. A sacrifice advanced him to third and David Brandt (Contoocook, N.H.
) a sacrifice fly to give Castleton the 2-1 advantage.

The Builders responded in the game in the fourth as Ryan Hendrickson singled to left and advanced to third after a pair of groundouts. Zach Harding then stroked a single to right which plated Hendrickson to tie the game.

Apprentice School opened up an advantage in the fifth with a two-run inning as Wilson opened with a single and scored as Lake ripped a double to centerfield.  After advancing to third on a single by Hendrickson, Lake scored on a sacrifice fly from Matt Zapf. They scored two more in the seventh on RBI singles from Lake and Zapf before adding an insurance run in the eighth on a RBI single from Aldridge.

Brandt was one of five players with a hit on the afternoon and also had an RBI and stole a base. On the mound, Tyler Erickson (Naugatuck, Conn.) got the start and went four innings, striking out four and giving up two earned runs while walking a single batter.

The Spartans return to action on Friday for a pair of contests, facing St. Vincent at 1 p.m. and then battling with the Builders at 4 p.m.