Castine, Maine - Castleton earned a pair of crucial conference wins on Monday, beating North Atlantic Conference foe Maine Maritime Academy in both games of a doubleheader at Ritchie Field. The Spartans ripped a total of 23 hits on the day to earn victories by the score of 9-5 and 4-3.

Jessica Babcock finished the day with five hits, including a double and a solo home run, three RBI and three runs scored to lead the Spartan offense. Chelsea Grady also knocked five hits out of the designated hitter slot, scoring a pair of runs. Stephanie Sylvester played both games behind the plate, going 3-for-8 on the day, scoring three runs and stealing a pair of bases.

From the get-go, it was clear that the first game would be a battle of premier offenses. The Spartans jumped on the board immediately with a four-run first inning. Babcock ripped an RBI double and came home on a single from Brittany Brayman, making it 2-0. Sylvester reached on an error before pitcher Katie Gagne crushed a two-run double to put the Spartans up 4-0.

Maine Maritime responded with three runs of their own in the bottom of the frame. The Mariners scored three runs on four hits and a walk, but Gagne limited the damage by forcing Lauren McKenna to ground out to first to end the inning, stranding runners at second and third.

MMA used a pair of hits and a Castleton error to tie the game in the bottom of the fourth, but the Spartans refused to go down. Instead, the Spartans responded with an offensive outburst in the top of the fifth, scoring five runs to go ahead 9-4. Tori Fearon and Babcock each reached base for Brittany Brayman who jacked a three-run longball to make it 7-4. Four batters later, Kayla Wood drove in a run on a sacrifice fly and Cassidy Auger ripped a single to drive in another, making it 9-4.

The Mariners attempted to mount a comeback, but could only muster one run in the bottom of the seventh. Andi Flannery led off the inning with a double, and was brought home on a squeeze play, but the Spartans shut the door on the home team, closing out the game with a 9-5 win. Gagne tossed all seven innings, recording six strikeouts in the win, her first of the year.

In game two, the Spartans outhit the Mariners 11-2 but MMA pitcher Abby Yeo managed to scatter the hits, forcing Castleton to strand eight runners on base. Kayla Wood finished with a complete game for the Spartans, allowing two earned runs on a pair of hits and recording a career-high 11 strikeouts in the win. 

Castleton got on the board in the top of the third with three runs on three hits and a pair of errors. Babcock got the Spartans going by ripping a solo bomb to dead center, making it 1-0. Stephanie Sylvester and Chelsea Grady followed with back-to-back singles, and came around to score on an error, making it 3-0.

The Mariners responded with three runs of their own in the bottom of the third. Flannery ripped a two-run double after back-to-back walks to open the inning. She advanced to third on a passed ball and scored on a fielder's choice to tie the game. 

With the game deadlocked, a pair of freshmen came through in the clutch for the Spartans. Wood helped her own cause by getting on base to lead off the top of the sixth, reaching on an error. The pitcher advanced to second on a wild pitch, and came around to score on a double off the bat of fellow freshman Cassidy Auger. The run gave the Spartans a 4-3 advantage heading into the bottom of the sixth.

Wood closed out the game on the mound, striking out the side in the bottom of the sixth. She then mowed through the Mariners in the bottom of the seventh without allowing a hit to preserve the 4-3 lead and give the Spartans the win. 

With the pair of victories, Castleton moves to 3-7 on the year with a 2-2 mark within the NAC. The squad will return to action on Thursday April 10 when they travel to Plymouth State for a matinee doubleheader.