CASTLETON, Vt. – The Spartans got a complete-game three-hitter from Tyler Erickson (Naugatuck, Conn.) as Castleton earned a 2-1 victory over Colby-Sawyer to clinch the North Eastern Athletic Conference East Division Championship on Sunday afternoon at Spartan Field.

One day after tossing a complete-game four hitter, the Tournament MVP stepped up when his team needed him most. Erickson was efficient, scattering three hits over 9.0 innings and striking out three batters without walking a single one in earning his ninth victory of the season. The win clinches the Spartans' second NEAC East Division Championship in three years as they improve to 30-14 on the season.

PJ Singster (Sandown, N.H.) took the loss for Colby-Sawyer, but was impressive on the mound getting himself out of jams on multiple occasions and allowing just a pair of earned runs in the third inning. He allowed nine hits over 8.0 innings and struck out two batters without walking a single one. The Chargers drop to 20-22 with the loss.

In addition to Erickson, Peter Wagner (Brattleboro, Vt.) and Patrick Riley (Strafford, Vt.) were named to the all tournament team. Wagner went 13-for-20 from the plate during the tournament with a hit in each game, while Riley earned a win over Thomas to stave off elimination on Saturday morning.

Castleton threatened in the second after Peter Wagner (Brattleboro, Vt.) led off with a single up the middle. Cameron Curler (Vergennes, Vt.) bunted him over to second and after a flyout, Tyler Hoare (Duxbury, Vt.) hit an infield single to put the runners on the corners. Singster stayed composed for the Chargers and induced a flyout to end the frame.

David Brandt (Contoocook, N.H.) got the offense going an inning later, as he was hit to lead off and then stole second successfully on the first pitch, despite the pitch-out by Singster. Ryan Zielinski (Schenectady, N.Y.) followed with a single through the left side to put runners on the corners. Joe Borowski (Schenectady, N.Y.) came through with a groundout to the second baseman, scoring Brandt from third for the 1-0 lead. A groundout by Mayo advanced Zielinski to third and Wagner drove him in with a single through the right side for the two-run lead after three.

In the top of the sixth, Colby-Sawyer's Jon Wylie (Middleboro, Mass.) reached on a fielding error by Wagner to lead off. He advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt and moved to third on a grounder to second. Wylie then scored on a throwing error by Wagner to cut the Castleton lead in half.

Looking for an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth, Curler hit a one-out single and Macyn Clifford (Brookline, N.H.) ripped the first pitch he saw into center for a single. After a groundout, Mat Pause (Hartford, Vt.) walked to load the bases, but a groundout ended the frame.

Erickson finished the Chargers off in the top of the ninth, getting each of the first two batters out before allowing a single and getting a groundout to end the game. The senior was mobbed at the mound as the Spartans charged the field.

Castleton now advances to play Penn St. – Berks, the West Division Champions, next weekend for the right to represent the NEAC in the NCAA National Tournament. 

NEAC East Division All-Tournament Team
Tyler Erickson, Castleton - MVP
Patrick Riley, Castleton
Peter Wagner, Castleton
Andy Lapple, Colby-Sawyer
Brendan Harding, Colby-Sawyer
Kevin Keith, Colby-Sawyer
Chris Farrar, Thomas
Cody Vigue, Thomas
Niko Ververis, Husson
Shawn Smith, Husson