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astleton, Vt. - The Spartans got timely hitting and a great pitching performance from junior Taylor Lively (Greenfield, Mass.) to open with a 6-3 win over Rensselaer, but weren't able to earn the sweep, dropping a 2-0 game in the nightcap on Wednesday evening at Spartan Field.

Lively gave up 12 hits, but only allowed a single earned run while striking out six without walking a batter to earn her second straight victory. In the second game, Castleton put the tying run on base in the bottom of the sixth and seventh innings, but could drive them home and settled for the loss. The Spartans move to 4-10 with the split while the Engineers go to 8-8 overall.

Castleton was aggressive in the first, scoring one run in the first inning. Sophomore Tori Fearon (Colchester, Conn.) reached on an error with two outs and Margy Kerschner (Vergennes, Vt.) followed with a single. Shannon Jipner (Bristol, Vt.) was then hit by a pitch and Mercedes Maltbie (Warrensburg, N.Y.) drove a single up the middle, scoring Fearon for the early lead.

The RPI bats can alive in the third inning with back-to-back two-out singles. Gillian McCarthy (Worthington, Ohio) came through with an RBI double, scoring both runs and giving the Engineers a 2-1 advantage.

The Spartans responded in the bottom of the frame with four runs to take back the lead. Fearon started it off with a one-out single and Kerschner followed with a double to put two runners on. Jipner hit a fielder's choice to second, scoring Fearon from third. Maltbie came through once again with a single and freshman Stephanie Sylvester (Swanton, Vt.) kept the rally going with a double, scoring Jipner. Maltbie provided the final run of the inning by scoring on a wild pitcher, before a pop up ended the scoring.

Castleton added a run in the fourth as Kristy Pinkham (Brandon, Vt.) walked, stole second and came around to score on a single by Kerschner.

Down to its last at bats, RPI came through with consecutive one-out singles, to score a run and cut the Spartan lead to 6-3. The Engineers then followed with two more singles to load the bases. A force out at home left Castleton one out from victory and then Leah Van Buren (Schenectady, N.Y.) clinched the win with a nice catch on the run in left field for the final out.

The second game was more of a pitcher's duel, as Spartan starter Emily Sweeney (Weare, N.H.) and Engineer pitcher Kristina Weltzin (Commerce Town, Mich.) combined to give up just ten hits and two run.

RPI scored once in the second inning as Aimee Konet (Houston, Texas) singled with two down and was driven in on a triple by Tori Hunt (Cheshire, Mass.).

The Engineers put runners on in the fourth and fifth, but Sweeney kept their offense at bay and got out of trouble. Castleton also had its chances, as Caylee Fleury (Barre, Vt.) was throw out at home and then left a runner stranded on third in the next inning.

In the sixth, Sarah Heller (Guilderland, N.Y.) earned a one-out walk and McCarthy followed with a single to put runners on first and second. Charlene Osmanski (Elmhurst, Ill.) then hit a ball to the second baseman and she tagged McCarthy, however her throw to first was in the dirt and went to the fence, allowing Heller to score and push the lead to 2-0.

Castleton came close once again in the sixth, putting runners on first and second with two outs, but couldn't convert. In the last of the seventh, Maltbie walked and Fleary hit a single up the middle. A groundout with one out advanced both runners, however, another groundout ended the scoring threat.

Kerschner finished the day 5-for-8 while Maltbie and Fleury each added a pair of hits. Sweeney took the loss in the second game, giving up just six hits and one earned run without striking out a batter.

Weltzin went 7.0 innings in the second game, striking out nine batters while walking five for the shutout. The first-year also gave up one earned run and struck out five in 3.0 innings of relief in the first game.

Castleton return to action on Saturday when the team travels to face Green Mountain for a doubleheader beginning at 1 pm.