Hampton, Va. - In a game that showcased a pair of impressive offenses, the Spartans fell just short of an epic comeback, falling 11-10 to Apprentice School on Saturday afternoon at War Memorial Field. The game featured 21 runs and 30 hits, including eight doubles from the Spartans. 

Castleton trailed 11-8 entering the top of the ninth, but drove in two runs to make it an 11-10 game. The squad had a chance to take the lead with a the tying run on second base and just one out, but the Spartans couldn't bring home the runner and suffered a one-run loss. Matt McNamee and Taylor Vile each went 4-for-5 from the plate to lead the offense.

Conner Johnson took the mound for the Spartans to begin the game. The sophomore threw five innings allowing four earned runs, giving up seven hits, three walks, and ringing up four strikeouts to earn the no-decision. Johnson got off to a rough start, allowing the Builders to get out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first. 

Castleton responded in the top of the second with a pair of runs. Jimmy Buckley led off the inning with a double, followed by back-to-back singles from Chaz Millett and Vile to bring him around to score. Two batters later, Allen White drove in Millett with a single to center, putting the Spartans ahead 2-1.

The Builders answered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the second as well. Johnson allowed a pair of hits in the inning, but got a pair of strikeouts as well. Apprentice came around to score on an infield single and an error, making it 3-2.

Castleton jumped ahead with a three-run fourth inning to take a 5-3 lead. Millett and Vile led off the inning with a pair of singles, and then Tyler Lord and Joe Borowski each ripped RBI doubles to put Castleton ahead 4-3. McNamee capped the inning with another RBI double to give the Spartans a two-run lead. Johnson worked through a scoreless fifth inning on the mound, but started out with a rocky sixth. 

Johnson began the sixth frame by allowing a walk and then hitting the next batter to put runners on first and second with no outs. Matt Ravey came in to relieve Johnson but struggled on the mound. The senior hit two batters, and allowed a walk and a pair of singles before being swapped out for Nate Swahn. Swahn came in with the bases loaded and forced a double play and then a ground out to end the inning. The damage had been done already though, as the Builders took a 7-5 advantage into the seventh.

Castleton went down in order in the top of the seventh and the Builders tacked onto their lead with a pair of runs on two hits and an error. In the top of the eighth, Castleton trailed 9-5 but came out swinging. Taylor Vile led off the inning with a single, followed by another single from Allen White two batters later. The pair performed a double-steal, and advanced again on a throwing error by the catcher, making it 9-6. Joe Borowski ripped a sacrifice fly deep to center to make it 9-7.

Apprentice added another two runs in the bottom of the eighth on a bunt single, a double, and a Spartan error to extend their lead to 11-7. Trailing by four, the Spartans enter the top of the ninth with their backs to the wall. Macyn Clifford led off the inning with a double to deep center, and Dan Errico followed with a pinch-hit double to the left-center gap. Millett singled to left to bring in Clifford, making it 11-8, and then Vile ripped his second double of the day to drive in two and make it 11-10. With the tying run on second and one out, Castleton had two shots at bringing Vile home, but could not manufacture the run, suffering the defeat.

Ravey took the loss for the Spartans, falling to 0-1 on the year. Brock Harris earned the win for the Builders after tossing 3.1 innings allowing just one unearned run. Castleton falls to 3-4 on the season and will return to action on March 23 when they travel to Coast Guard Academy to take on the Bears in a doubleheader.