CASTLETON, Vt. - The Spartans got a pair of strong pitching performances and some timely hitting as they swept Thomas on Saturday afternoon, taking the first game 2-1 and the second by a 5-0 margin.

Junior Emily Sweeney (Weare, N.H.) started the first game and scattered seven hits over seven innings, giving up just one unearned run while striking out six. Classmate Taylor Lively was even more dominant in the nightcap, giving up just a single while striking out ten batters and allowing four baserunners total during the contest.

At the plate, Calyee Fleury (Barre, Vt.) went 5-for-6 on the afternoon, scoring once in both games while also earning an RBI on the afternoon. The victories improve Castleton's record to 13-14 on the season and 8-1 in the North Atlantic Conference. Thomas, meanwhile, drops to 8-20-1 overall and 5-6-1 in the NAC.

In the first game the Spartans wasted little time in grabbing the lead, as Fleury was able to draw a one-out walk in the bottom of the first. First basemen Shannon Jipner (Bristol, Vt.) singled up the middle to put runners on the corners with one out. Mercedes Matlbie (Warrensburg, N.Y.) then drove a shot to deep right center for two-RBI triple and a 2-0 lead.

In the top of the third, the Terriers had a chance to tie things up. Leadoff Kristi Hilton (Monmouth, Maine) walked and advanced to second on a grounder to the first basemen.  With one out, the next batter reached on a fielding error by the left fielder, and then advanced to second. However, Sweeney shut down the threat and got each of the next two batters out.

Thomas finally cut into the Spartan lead in the top of the sixth inning. Alei Collier (Sidney, Maine) reached on a throwing error to leadoff the inning. After a one-out single by Kelsey Crowe (Gorham, Maine), she advanced to second and came around to score on a single by Lauren Hachey (Oakland, Maine).

Sweeney shut the door once again, ending the threat in the sixth and then closing the door for good in the top of the seventh by inducing a flyout to left with a pair of runners on base.

In the nightcap, Castleton broke through in the third when Fleury hit a drive to centerfield. The centerfielder misplayed the ball and it went all the way to the fence, allowing the speedster to score for the 1-0 lead.

The Spartans scored a pair of runs an inning later to push their lead to three. Chelsea Crehan (Essex, Conn.) led off with a single and scored on a double to right-center by Kristy Pinkham (Brandon, Vt.). Fleury followed with a double of her own, scoring Pinkham.

Castleton plated their final two runs in the fifth, taking advantage of consecutive fielding errors to grab a 5-0 advantage. Lively struck out a pair in the top of the sixth and sent them down in order in the final frame to secure the win.

The Spartans return to action on Sunday when they take on Maine-Farmington for a doubleheader beginning at 12 pm.