MIDDLEBURY, Vt. – Castleton put forth one of its most impressive pitching performances of the year but couldn't generate enough offense to secure a victory as the Spartans fell to Middlebury 3-1 and then 2-0 on Wednesday afternoon. 

The Spartans looked to be headed to extra innings in the nightcap, but Hye-Jim Kim belted a two-run homer with two outs in the bottom of the seventh for the walk-off. Castleton dropped to 3-8 with the loss while the Panthers improved to 10-7. 

Kayla Wood recorded one of Castleton's two hits in the second game and took the loss but was solid, striking out six batters in 2.2 innings and allowing just the one hit. In the opening game Tori Fearon recorded the team's lone RBI and stole a base. 

In the opening game, Middlebury scored in the bottom of the first for the early lead, though Castleton came back in the third. Brooke Naylor reached on a fielder's choice and advanced to second on a single by Kristi Lawless with one out. Both runners advanced on a wild pitch and Naylor came in to score after Fearon reached base following a throwing error. A single by Brayman loaded the bases with two down, but a groundout ended the threat. 

The Panthers took back the lead in the bottom of the frame and added another in the fourth for the 3-1 advantage. Castleton didn't manage a hit over the final three innings as they fell by two. 

Cassidy Tedeschi took the loss, going 4.0 innings and allowing three runs on five hits. Katie Gagne came on in relief and allowed just one hit while striking out two in 2.0 innings. 

The nightcap was a pitcher's duel as Middlebury's Alexa Lesenskyj and Veronica Arnone kept both teams off the board through four innings. Wood came on in relief in the fifth and promptly sent the first six batters she faced down in order. 

Castleton went down in order in the top of the seventh and Wood came on for the bottom of the frame. She opened with a strikeout and then gave up a walk she before another strikeout for the second out. Kim was able to draw a full count on Wood before launching a shot over the fence in dead center for the walk-off win. 

The Spartans return to action on Saturday at 2 pm for their home opener against Maine Farmington.