Castleton, Vt. - The Spartans gear up to host the Thomas College Terriers for a one-game playoff in the North Atlantic Conference Quarterfinal round on Tuesday, Apr. 23 at 3 p.m. at Spartan Field.

Castleton defeated Thomas 6-0 and 1-0 in two games in Waterville, Maine earlier in the season. In the first game of the day, Babcock hit for the cycle, smashing her first career home run, and scoring four of the Spartans six runs. Senior Taylor Lively went the distance, giving up just four hits while striking out seven without walking a batter.

Emily Sweeney got the ball to start the second game and went the first 6.0 innings before Lively came in for the last frame to close out the win, striking out two of the three batters she faced. Tori Fearon's sacrifice fly was the difference, bringing home Chelsea Crehan for the only run of the game.

This time around, the implications are higher in this win-or-go-home matchup. Last time the Spartans faced the Terriers in the playoffs, Thomas made off with a 3-1 victory, upsetting the second-seed Spartans. 

Castleton has depended on production from freshmen Jessica Babcock and Brittany Brayman. Babcock has been stellar from the plate, batting .359 on the year and belting three home runs, three triples, and three doubles. She leads the team with 17 RBI. Brayman has been a big hitter at the plate for Castleton as well, launching two home runs and driving in 15 RBI.

Junior Tori Fearon leads the team with a .383 batting average and is second on the squad with 16 RBI. Chelsea Crehan has been a catalyst for the Spartans, leading the team in runs scored (19), doubles (7), and stolen bases (6), while batting .354 on the season.

From the circle, Castleton has leaned on Taylor Lively and Emily Sweeney. Sweeney has pitched 10 complete games on the season, earning five wins on the year. In 73.2 innings she has fanned 33 batters. Lively has been dominant in her senior season, going the distance in 18 games and winning 10 of them. In 129.2 innings, Lively has struck out 135 batters, accumulating a 2.38 ERA. 

Thomas looks to Alyssa Eugley to trigger the offense. The sophomore is batting .352 and leads the team in hits (37), runs (23), doubles (10) and stolen bases (9). Infielder Lauren Hachey has driven in a team-high 16 RBI on the year. 

From the circle, freshman Faith Robinson has been the Terriers' workhorse, pitching 131.0 innings and 17 complete games. The first-year is 10-7 with a 3.95 ERA this season, and took losses in both of the Terriers' games against the Spartans earlier this season. In those two games, Robinson allowed seven runs on 23 hits in 14 innings pitched.

The Spartans will look to tee off on Robinson and beat the Terriers again when they square off on Tuesday, Apr. 23 at 3 p.m. at Spartan Field in NAC quarterfinal action. Live stats will be available for the game.