HENNIKER, N.H. - It took a nearly a week, but the Spartans finished their previously suspended contest with New England College on Monday afternoon, tacking on three more runs to their nine the previous week for the 12-4 victory over the Pilgrims.

Castleton led 9-4 last Thursday when the contest was suspended due to weather in the bottom of the second inning. The victory improves the Spartans' record to 16-14 overall and 11-1 in the North Atlantic Conference. NEC drops to 17-13 on the year and 9-3 in conference play, two games behind first-place Castleton.

Junior Taylor Lively (Greenfield, Mass.) was utterly dominant after giving up four runs in the first 1.2 innings last week. She struck out the first five batters she faced on Monday and finished with 10 strikeouts out of a possible 13 outs on the afternoon. No runner reached base and the outfield didn't even have to record a putout. Senior Shannon Jipner (Bristol, Vt.)  was dynamic at the plate, going 3-for-4 with four RBI and two runs.

Fighting through poor weather on Thursday, Castleton put up three runs in the first inning. Kristy Pinkham (Brandon, Vt.) walked to lead off and Tori Fearon (Colchester, Conn.) was hit with one out to put runners on for Jipner. The senior laced a double to left-center, scoring both runners. She eventually moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on a single by Margy Kerschner (Vergennes, Vt.).

The Pilgrims responded in the bottom of the frame as Lively walked the bases loaded with no outs. She was able to get a force out at home, but a sacrifice fly and a wild pitch scored a pair of runs to cut the lead to 3-2.

Castleton's offense exploded for six more runs in the second as 11 batters came to the plate in the inning. With Pinkham on second and two down, Fearon doubled home the freshman. Jipner followed with a run-scoring single and each of the next two batters reach to load the bases for Stephanie Sylvester (Swanton, Vt.). She walked, as did Bridget Dusha (Greenwich, N.Y.) to push the score to 7-0. Chelsea Crehan (Essex, Conn.) made it three straight runs on walks and Castleton scored once more on a wild pitch for the 9-2 lead.

With the weather getting worse, Lively got the first two outs before giving up consecutive singles and a double to make it a 9-4 ball game. With a runner on third and two down the game was called.

On Monday, Lively struck out the first batter she faced to end the threat in the second. The Pilgrims wouldn't have another player reach base in the game.

Fearon doubled with one out in the third inning and Jipner came through again, this time with an RBI single.

The Spartans added two more runs in the top of the sixth as Kerschner doubled to lead off the inning and one out later, Dusha blasted a home from for the 12-4 advantage.

Castleton returns to action on Friday when the team hosts Lyndon St. for a doubleheader beginning at 3:30 p.m.