CASTLETON, Vt. – The Spartans had the tying run on second base with one out but couldn't drive it in as Amherst held on for a hard-fought 4-3 victory on Sunday afternoon at Spartan Field. 

Trailing 4-2 with no outs and runners on the corners in the bottom of the ninth, Nick Swim executed a perfect squeeze bunt to score Tyler Lord and move Taylor Vile into scoring position down one. However, a strikeout and groundout ended the comeback attempt.

Lord Jeff's starter Sam Schneider was perfect through five innings and earned the win as he went 8.0 innings overall while allowing two hits, two runs and striking out six. Reliever Mike Castigi entered two batters into the ninth and didn't allow a hit while stirking out one for his second save of the year. 

Castleton's Steve Jurkiewicz was solid in six innings of work, allowing six hits and two earned runs while walking a batter and striking out five. Nick Swim had a hit and an RBI while Tyler Hoare went 1-for-1 with a home run. 

It was a pitcher's through the first three innings. However, in the fourth the Lord Jeffs took a 1-0 lead on a solo home run by Conner Gunn. Jurkiewicz got out the frame without any trouble and made it through the fifth easily. 

In the top of the sixth, Amherst added to its lead on a two-run double by Eric West. Anthony Spina followed with a one-out single, scoring Gunn for the 4-1 advantage. The Lord Jeffs then attempted a double steal, but Vile cut off the throw to second and fired home in time to get West. Jurkiewicz ended the inning by inducing a groundout to short. 

The Spartans got a run back in the bottom of the frame as Nate Swahn led off with a double to the centerfield wall. He advanced to third on a groundout and scored on a sacrifice fly by Soren Pelz-Walsh. 

Reliever Devin Hayes pitched a scoreless seventh and eighth for Castleton to keep it 4-1. In the bottom of eighth with two outs, Tyler Hoare ripped a solo home run to left center, cutting the deficit to 4-2. 

Sam Spencer came on for the ninth and struck out two while allowing one single to set up the ninth inning drama. Tyler Lord led off with a double down the left field line and Taylor Vile reached on an infield single, advancing Lord to third. Swim followed with his sacrifice bunt to make it just 4-3 before the comeback stalled. 

The Spartans drop to 17-9 with the loss while Amherst improves to 18-7 overall. Castleton returns to action on Tuesday when the team hosts New England College in a doubleheader beginning at 2 pm.