Castleton, Vt. - The Spartans softball team split a pair of games against Plymouth State on Tuesday, Apr. 9, falling 10-4 in game one, but bouncing back in the second game to win 4-3.

Tori Fearon finished 3-for-4 on the day with a double, two RBI, and two runs scored to lead the Spartans, while Ruby Bushey cranked a two-run bomb in the first game. In game two, Emily Sweeney twirled a gem, allowing two runs on six hits in a complete-game win.

Kelsey O'Rourke got the call to start game one for the Spartans. The freshman worked her way out of a jam in the bottom of the first, after loading the bases with two outs. The rookie forced Shirley Butterfield to fly out to end the threat.

In the top of the second, O'Rourke wasn't as fortunate, surrendering six runs on eight hits to the surging Panthers. Butterfield came up with the big hit in the inning, cracking a two-run double into right-center to make the score 6-0.

In the bottom half of the inning, Castleton responded with a big hit of their own. After Fearon led off the inning with a walk, freshman first baseman Ruby Bushey stepped up and belted a long drive over the left field wall for a two-run round-tripper, making the score 6-2.

In the third, the Panthers and Spartans traded runs, each scoring two in the frame. Taylor Mancini laced a two-run double for Plymouth State, while Jessica Babcock and Fearon each drove in a run in the bottom of the inning. After the third, Castleton trailed 8-4.

In the top of the fifth inning, the Panthers teed off on O'Rourke for two more runs before the freshman was pulled in favor of senior Taylor Lively. Lively worked herself out of a bases loaded jam by striking out Cynthia Barata for the final out of the inning.

Castleton went quietly for the rest of the game, dropping the contest 10-4 to the Panthers. O'Rourke took the loss, allowing 10 earned runs in 4.2 innings, while Ali Keith earned the win for the Panthers.

In game two, the Spartans turned to veteran Emily Sweeney to give them some stability on the mound. The senior did not disappoint, allowing just two earned runs over a complete-game, seven inning performance, earning the win for the home team.

In the top of the first, Panthers shortstop Bekah Jackson led off with a triple, and came home to score on an error to put the visitors up 1-0. 

Plymouth State added to their lead in the third inning, after Jackson rocked a one-out double, then stole third. Jenny Bove brought home Jackson with an RBI groundout to put the Panthers up 2-0.

Trailing by a pair, the Spartans chipped away at the Panthers' lead in the bottom of the fourth. Kristy Pinkham drove in Castleton's first run of the game with a single to center field that brought home Fearon, cutting the lead to 2-1.

In the top of the fifth, Plymouth State attempted to answer with some offensive production of their own. Barata rocked a one-out double down the left field line, and was followed by a bunt single by Cali DeGrace. With runners on the corners and just one out, Castleton's pitcher-catcher combination came up with big plays. Sweeney forced Jackson to pop out to third for the second out of the inning, and catcher Stephanie Sylvester gunned down DeGrace as she attempted to steal second to end the inning and the Plymouth State threat.

With momentum on their side, Castleton worked some magic with the bats to take the lead in the bottom of the fifth. Kayla Daigle drew a leadoff walk, followed by a bunt single from Chelsea Crehan. Two batters later, Brittany Brayman reached on a fielding error to load the bases. The next batter, Chelsea Grady, dinked an RBI groundout to tie the game at 2-2. Fearon and Sylvester followed with back-to-back RBI singles to give the Spartans a 4-2 lead headed into the sixth inning.

In the sixth frame, Sweeney allowed one run on two hits as the Panthers cut the Spartan lead to just one run. Castleton went quietly in the bottom of the sixth, giving Plymouth State one more crack at tying the game in the top of the seventh.

Sweeney began the seventh inning by notching a strikeout, and forced a weak groundout to the shortstop for the second out. A throwing error on a close play extended the inning, allowing DeGrace to reach first base. The Spartans chose to intentionally walk the dangerous Jackson, and pitched around Bove to load the bases for Taylor Mancini. With two outs, and nowhere the put the batter, Sweeney became the aggressor, forcing the batter to groundout to first base to end the game.

Bekah Jackson finished the day by going 7-for-8 from the plate, with a double and two triples, two RBI and five runs scored for the Panthers. Kayla Daigle went 2-for-4 for the Spartans with three walks and a run scored.  

The comeback win in game two earned the Spartans a split on the day to improve to 7-15 on the year. They will host New England College on Thursday, Apr. 11 in a North Atlantic Conference doubleheader. Live stats will be available for both games, beginning at 3 p.m. at Spartan Field.