CASTLETON, Vt. – The Spartans allowed just six hits all afternoon and the offense did its part by scoring 13 runs as they swept the University of Maine at Farmington 9-1 and then 4-0 on Saturday afternoon. 

Castleton didn't allow an earned run on the day and received impressive performance from all four of its freshmen hurlers. Kayla Wood set the tone in the opener as she went 4.0 innings while allowing two hits and striking out six without walking a batter. Katie Gagne started the second game and gave up three hits while striking out two batters. Veronica Arnone and Cassidy Tedeschi came on in relief and held their own. 

In addition to strong pitching, Jessica Babcock and Tori Fearon led an offense which recorded 21 hits.  Both went 4-for-6 on the day while Babcock added two runs and a pair of RBI. Wood helped her cause in the opener by going 2-for-2 with three RBI. In total nine different players recorded a hit on the day. 

In the opener, UMF opened up the scoring in the top of the first. Emily Soule ripped a double to left and came around to scoring on a field error on an Amy Jones knock to left field for the 1-0 advantage 

Castleton countered in the bottom of the first has Lawless led off with a single to shortstop. Fearon followed with single up the middle and both advanced a base on a wild pitch with one out. Brayman walked to load the bases but Stephanie Sylvester struck out for the second out.

Chelsea Grady followed with a shot to Soule in the circle but her throw to first was off, allowing three runs to score. Gagne kept the inning going with a single off third base and Wood drove in Grady with a single to right field. A groundout ended the frame with Castleton in front 4-1. 

Wood sent the Beavers down in order in the second, setting the table for another big inning for the Spartans. Fearon hit a one-out single and came home for the 5-1 lead on a double to left-center by Babcock. Brayman grounded out to third but an errant throw to try and nail Babcock at third allowed the shortstop to score. 

With two down and the bases clear, Sylvester reached on a fielding error by Soule and Grady followed with a single to center. Gagne then reach first on an error, loading the bases for Wood. She helped her own cause with a two-run single for the 8-1 advantage and Ruby Bushey finished the scoring with a single to center to make it an eight-run game. 

Castleton pitching did the rest as Wood allowed just one hit over the next two innings. Arnone came on in the fifth and didn't allow a hit while striking out two of the three batters she faced. 

In the second game the top of the order once again came through. Lawless, Fearon and Babcock all led off with singles, loading the bases for Brayman. She came through with a two-run single to centerfield. The Spartans then tried to execute a doubled steal and Brayman was caught in a run-down, but Babcock did score on the play for the 3-0 lead. 

Gagne and Soule took control over the next three innings, as the pitchers combined to allow just four hits. Tedeschi came on in relief in the fifth and kept the Beavers off the board. 

The Spartans added to their lead in the bottom of the frame. Lawless belted a one-single to left and Fearon followed with a double to center. Babcock drove Lawless home with a single for the 4-0 advantage, however back-to-back pop-ups ended the scoring. 

Tedeschi retired the final six UMF batters in order to help Castleton win its fourth straight NAC contest. 

The Spartans improve to 4-2 in the NAC and 5-9 overall. The Beavers drop to 2-2 overall and 2-2 in conference play. 

Castleton returns to action on Sunday beginning at 12 pm as the team hosts Thomas for a doubleheader beginning at 12 pm.