Saratoga Springs, N.Y. – The Castleton offense struggled down south two weeks ago but was explosive on Monday against host Skidmore, as the Spartans swept the Thoroughbreds 11-8 and 8-2 for their first two victories of the season. 

Castleton recorded at least ten hits in each contest and consistently drove in runners in scoring position as the team improved to 2-8 on the year. Skidmore meanwhile dropped to 4-10 on the year.

Senior Tori Fearon had two hits in each contest, while Chelsea Crehan recorded a pair of doubles and four RBI as the team totaled 21 hits and 19 runs on the day. Taylor Lively was impressive in the day's second game, going 7.0 innings and striking out four while allowing a pair of unearned runs. 

In the opener the Spartans got on the board with three runs in the top of the second inning. Chelsea Grady led off the inning with a walk and two batters later Ruby Bushey drove a single to left field. Crehan followed with a double to left, scoring both runners for the 2-0 lead. Castleton eventually loaded the bases and Brittany Brayman drew a walk to bring home Crehan for a 3-0 advantage. 

Emily Sweeney struck out the first two batters in the bottom of the frame, however back-to-back batters reached and Katie Peverada ripped an RBI single to center to cut the Spartan lead to 3-1. 

An inning later, Skidmore make it 3-2, as Katie Sorohka singled home Mackenzie Whiting with two outs. 

Crehan and Kristy Pinkham led off the fourth with walks and a bunt single by Kayla Daigle loaded the bases for Caylee Fleury. Fleury doubled to the right-center gap, scoring all three runners for the 6-2 lead. Two batters later Jessica Babcock singled home Fleury and Grady followed with her first career home run to put the Spartans in front 9-2. 

The Thoroughbreds weren't going down without a fight and added two runs in the fifth and one more in the sixth to close the gap to 9-5 in favor of Castleton. 

In the top of the seventh the Spartans added some insurance courtesy of a two-run home run by Brayman to put them in front 11-6. 

Skidmore countered in the last of the seventh as each of the first three batters reached base. A single scored two and Peverada added an RBI single to make it 11-8 with no outs in the inning. Sweeney got one out and then walked a batter before inducing a game-ending double play. 

Sweeney finished with the complete-game victory, allowing seven earned runs while striking out six batters and walking six. 

Castleton's offense kept it up in the nightcap, scoring in the top of the first. With two down Babcock singled Brayman over to second, and after a wild pitch Brayman scored on a single by Grady. Babcock then scored on a second wild pitch and Fearon concluded the scoring with a bunt RBI single for the 3-0 lead. 

In the bottom of the frame, Taylor Lively committed an error and allowed two unearned runs to score. However, the senior forced a fly out with a pair of runners on base to end the inning leading 3-2. 

Crehan walked to lead off the second and Fleury then reached on a one-out single. Brayman drove them both home on a single to right field for the 5-2 advantage. 

An inning later Stephanie Sylvester singled with two outs and Crehan followed with an RBI double to push Castleton's lead to four. 

In the fifth Fearon and Crehan each drove in runs, while Lively continued to shut down the Thoroughbred offense. The senior allowed just four hits over the final six innings to earn the win. 

Castleton returns to action on Wednesday when the team travels to Rensselaer for a doubleheader beginning at 3 pm.