IRVING, Texas – Castleton claimed its first victory of the 2015 season on Wednesday afternoon when it defeated the University of Dallas Crusaders 17-2 at Crusader Field.

The Spartans improved to 1-2 on the season with the victory and will finish their season-opening roadtrip on Friday at 3 pm when they square off with the Austin College Roos at Baker Field. The Crusaders, meanwhile, fall to 4-3 overall after suffering their third home defeat of the season.

Castleton's offense came alive against Dallas, collecting 17 runs from 19 hits, including seven extra-base hits. Eight different Spartans recorded RBIs in the contest led by Zach Bahan, who went 4-5 from the dish with two doubles, a home run and five RBIs.

Bahan gave the visitors a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning when he ripped a double to center field that brought home Castleton's designated hitter, Nick Swim.

In the top of the the third, Tyler Lord led off the inning with a triple before Soren Pelz-Walsh walked to put two on for Swim. The sophomore came through with a single to left field that brought home Lord and put Pelz-Walsh in scoring position. In the next at-bat, Bahan hit a bases-clearing double down the left field line, and Dan Errico followed that with an RBI single to make it 5-0.

The middle of Castleton's lineup was at it again in the top of the fifth. With two on and no one out, Nate Swahn drove a pitch over the left field wall, pushing Castleton's lead to eight. Later in the inning, Bahan picked up his fourth RBI of the contest after scoring Taylor Vile on a single to right field, giving the away side a ten-run lead.

In the sixth, Vile improved his RBI total to six on the season after driving home a pair of runs with a single to right centerfield and Swahn scored on a ground ball, double play later in the frame to push the Spartans' advantage to 13.

Castleton compiled four runs in the final three innings of play, including a solo shot from Bahan, en route to capturing  a 17-2 victory over the Crusaders.

Devin Hayes earned his first victory of the season after tossing seven innings of scoreless baseball with five strikeouts and just two hits allowed. Dallas, meanwhile, had nine different pitchers take the mound in the contest with starter Martin Cronin suffering the loss.