Hampton, Va. – Castleton received a strong pitching performance from freshman Steven Jurkiewicz and some timely hitting from the middle of its lineup to earn a 5-3 victory over Apprentice on Thursday. 

The Spartans recorded 11 hits compared to 12 for the Builders, but got the outs when they needed its as Castleton improved to 2-2 on the year. Apprentice dropped to 15-7 with the loss, halting the team's three-game win streak. 

Matt McNamee had three of the Spartan hits and scored two runs while Joe Borowski ripped a double and a triple from his No. three spot in the lineup. Nate Swahn added a pair of hits and two RBI while walking once. 

On the mound Jurkiewicz went 7.2 innings and allowed ten hits and three earned runs but only walked one batter and struck out five. The southpaw also didn't allow an extra base hit in the contest. Junior Matt Ravey tossed the final 1.1 innings to earn the save. 

Apprentice opened up the scoring with an earned run in the first inning but Castleton came up back with one in the top of the second. McNamee led off with a single and Macyn Clifford then reached first on a bunt. Tyler Hoare advanced the runners with a sacrifice bunt and Swahn singled home McNamee to the tie the game. Back-to-back strikeouts ended the frame. 

The Builders took back a one-run lead in the bottom of the third but Jurkiewicz stranded two runners in scoring position to end the threat.

Neither team scored again until the top of the fifth when Borowski led off with a double down the left field line. The next two runners reached, loading the bases for Hoare. He walked in the game-tying run and Swahn followed with another free pass to put Castleton in front 3-2. McNamee then scored on a wild pitch before a pair of outs ended the frame. 

One inning later Allen White led off with a shot over the fence in right field for the 5-2 Spartan advantage. Jurkiewicz kept the Builders off board until the bottom of the eighth inning. He allowed one run with two outs to cut the Castleton lead to 5-3. Ravey came in to relieve him and picked off the runner trying to steal to end the inning. 

Ravey came out for the bottom of the ninth and gave up a lead-off single to Chris Perry. However, Swahn threw him out trying to steal second for the first out. Ravey allowed one more single before inducing back-to-back flyouts to centerfield to earn the save. 

The Spartans return to action on Friday when they face St. Vincent at 12 pm and then Tufts at 6 pm.