BANGOR, Maine – Castleton State College split a North Atlantic Conference (NAC) softball doubleheader with defending conference champion Husson University Friday afternoon, dropping game one 2-1, but bouncing back with a 1-0 win in the nightcap to earn the split.

Castleton improves to 7-13 overall and 3-1 in conference play, earning its first win over Husson since the 2005 season. Husson's record goes to 13-8, 3-1.

Emily Sweeney (Weare, N.H.) was the hard-luck loser in the opener, scattering five hits over six innings, allowing two runs (one earned) with one strikeout.

Kody Lyon (Dalton, N.H.) picked up the complete-game win striking out eight while allowing one run on eight hits and two walks.

Castleton had at least one base runner in every inning, and had a hit in all but the sixth but could only muster one run off a Shannon Jipner (Bristol, Vt.) solo shot in the fourth inning that tied the game at the time.

Husson took the lead on an unearned run in the fifth after Nicole Sargeant (Sullivan, Maine) belted a one-out double to left and pinch runner Jessica Poulin (Albion, Maine) came around to score on a throwing error with two outs in the inning.

Sargeant singled home the game's first run in the second inning after a one-out double to leftfield Ashley Smith (Ellsworth, Maine).

Sargeant finished 2-for-2 with an RBI to pace the Eagles, while Tori Fearon (Colchester, Conn.) and Caylee Fleury (Barre, Vt.) each had two hits for the Spartans.

In the nightcap Taylor Lively (Greenfield, Mass.) twirled a complete-game five hitter, striking out eight en route to her fourth win of the season.

Fleury provided all of the offense Lively needed, going 4-for-4 with an RBI.

Becca McCarty (Skowhegan, Maine) was saddled with the loss, going six-and-two-thirds innings, allowing the one run on seven hits and four walks while striking out seven.

Scoreless through six, Castleton finally scratched out a run in the seventh inning as Chelsea Crehan (Essex, Conn.) worked a lead-off walk, advanced to second on a wild pitch and came around to score on a one-out single by Fleury. After a single by Fearon, Lyon was called upon to relieve with runners on first and second. Lyon induced a pop out and after loading the bases, extinguished the rally with a strikeout.

Lively worked a perfect seventh inning to seal the shutout.

Smith finished 2-for-3 with a double to lead the Husson offense and was one of only four Eagles to reach second base, all of which were stranded.

Castleton will face Maine Maritime tomorrow at 10 am in a conference doubleheader.