CASTLETON, Vt. – The Castleton softball team picked up a pair of non-conference wins on Wednesday afternoon, defeating in-state rival Norwich 8-0 in six innings in game one, and 4-1 in game two.

The Spartans move to 4-4 on the young season with the sweep, while Norwich falls to 0-10.

Jessica Babcock went 3-for-6 on the day, including a double and triple in the second game, to go along with two runs scored. Brittany Brayman belted her first home run of the season in the first game, while Taylor Paquette and Katie Gagne each picked up wins in the circle.

Taylor Morris was 2-for-6 on the day for the Cadets, doubling in the second game. Kassy Kazimierczak was 1-for-4 with a triple, a walk, and a run over the course of the two contests.

Paquette went six strong innings for Castleton, allowing just five hits while not walking a single batter. Brayman was 2-for-4 in the game with a home run and five runs batted in while scoring twice, and Gagne was a perfect 2-for-2 at the plate with a walk and an RBI.

The first game was all Castleton, as Paquette cruised through the first two innings without allowing a hit. After stranding runners on second and third base in the top half of the third inning, Paquette induced a groundout to bring the Spartan offense to the plate with the game still scoreless. The 0-0 affair would soon change, as Sami Carlo and Babcock each found a way on base before Brayman lifted a deep fly ball to left field that would clear the fence, giving Castleton a 3-0 lead. Chelsea Grady kept the offense going, as followed Brayman's home run with a triple before scoring on a sacrifice fly by Gagne.

The Spartans threatened again in the fifth inning as they loaded the bases, but could not push across a run, keeping it at 4-0 heading to the top of the sixth. Paquette would strand a pair of Cadet runners in the top of the sixth, bringing the Spartan bats up once more.

Carlo led off the sixth inning with a walk for Castleton, before Timi Carone reached on an error. A bunt single by Babcock loaded the bases for Brayman, who promptly singled to drive in her fourth and fifth runs of the day, making it 6-0 in favor of the Spartans and forcing a Norwich pitching change. After Babcock was tagged out at the plate on a fielder's choice, Gagne drew a walk to load the bases for the Spartans once more. A passed ball scored Brayman, making it 7-0 Castleton, before an RBI single by Ruby Bushey gave the Spartans the winning run, sealing the 8-0 victory in six innings.

Babcock led the Spartan offense in game two, recording two extra-base hits and a run scored, while Gagne went 5.1 innings on the mound, allowing just one run on two hits and two walks.

The Spartans got out to an early lead in game two, as Babcock tripled into the right-field corner and was driven in on a single up the middle by Grady.

After Gagne set Norwich down in order for the second time in as many innings to begin the game, the Spartans put up a three-spot in the second inning to move out to a 4-0 lead. Tori Swaine led off with a walk, and was driven in when Carlo singled into right field. After a lineout by Carone, Babcock stepped up and lifted a fly ball to right field that was misplayed by the Cadet defense, scoring a pair of runs for Castleton.

The two sides would trade zeroes for the next two full innings, before Norwich pushed its first run of the day across in the top of the fifth inning. Kazimierczak led off the inning with a triple before scoring on an RBI groundout by Mallori Cesario to make it a 4-1 game. Castleton would get a base-runner to third base in the home half of the inning, but failed to score as the inning ended with a groundout.

After a one-out walk in the sixth inning, the Spartans would go to the bullpen. Cassidy Tedeschi would come on in relief, working 1.2 scoreless innings for her first save of the season as the 4-1 score would hold until the final out.

Castleton is back in action on Saturday, when it hosts Skidmore in a doubleheader beginning at 1:00 p.m. at Spartan Field.