DANVILLE, Va. – Junior Steven Jurkiewicz tossed a complete game with just one run allowed to lead Castleton's baseball team to its first win of the season this afternoon with a 2-1 result over the Averett University Cougars at Owen-Fulton Field. 

The southpaw allowed 13 hits, but gave up no walks and hit just one batter, as the Spartans snapped their three-game losing streak and improved to 1-3 on the year. T.J. Viracola was just as good in his first start of 2016 for the Cougars, tossing nine innings and allowing just two runs (one earned) and three hits with ten strikeouts. Averett now stands at 1-2 overall. 

Castleton struggled at the plate with just three hits, despite picking up the victory. Dan Errico went 2-for-4 with a triple and one RBI, while Nick Swim added a single of his own to account for the only other Spartan hit of the day.

Billy McLaughlin went a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate to pace the Cougars, whereas Kyle Vidano and Mike Moore tallied two hits apiece. Hunter Ashworth, meanwhile, produced the lone Averett run of the game with his first home run of the year, a solo shot in the fifth.       

The Spartans struck first with a run in the opening inning of play to take an early lead. Matt Jackson began the frame with a walk before Swim knocked a single to center to put Jackson in scoring position. In the next at-bat, Errico ripped an RBI single to right to put the away side in front, 1-0.

In the top of the fourth, Castleton doubled its lead after Zach Bahan drove home a run. With the bases loaded and nobody out, the junior infielder grounded into a double play that allowed Swim to cross home, giving the visitors a two-run lead. The Spartans failed to add any more runs in the fourth, as Viracola struck out Mike Ferro to end the scoring threat.

The Cougars got on the board in the fifth when Ashworth hit a solo shot to cut the deficit back to one. However, Jurkiewicz shut down the hosts from there and tossed four innings of scoreless baseball to secure a 2-1 victory.

Castleton and Averett close out their two-game set tomorrow afternoon when they face-off at noon on Owen-Fulton Field.