CASTLETON, Vt. – Tallying five runs in the first inning of game two, the Castleton University softball team earned a doubleheader split – 5-1 – after dropping game one – 1-0 – with North Atlantic Conference foe New England College on Thursday afternoon.

Castleton moves to 7-15 overall and 3-3 in the conference, while New England College is now 13-21 and 7-3 in league play.

New England College 1, Castleton 0

Trailing 1-0 headed to the last of the seventh inning, Castleton put together its first serious threat of the game. With runners on first and second, Timi Carone nearly reached on a sacrifice bunt to the pitcher, but nonetheless, put both Spartans in scoring position. During the next at-bat, Calli Van Gorden got just under one, sky-ing it to right field to end the rally.

Castleton notched six hits throughout the first six innings proving the ability to get to New England College's pitcher Taylor Barbour, consistently. Yet the visiting pitcher refused to surrender any damage and did not allow a Spartan baserunner to get past second until the final frame.

Carone led the Spartans by going 2-for-3, while Calli Van Gorden, Sara Baker, Tori Swaine, McKinlie Carpenter and Devin Millerick each notched a hit.

Taylor Paquette took the loss in the pitcher's circle despite once again tying her career-high with eight strikeouts. She allowed just three hits and one run over seven innings of work.

Castleton 5, New England College 1

Exploding for five runs in the first inning, Castleton took advantage of four hits and two errors to take the lead. The combination of Rachael McCormick and Paquette on the pitching rubber kept the Pilgrims from climbing back into the game.

McCormick earned the win and allowed just one run through 4.1 innings. Paquette entered in a tough situation with one away in the fifth and worked through it. She would finish the game, throwing 2.2 innings and striking out three.

At the plate, the first six batters of the game reached before the Pilgrims were able to record an out. In the third at-bat, Baker smacked a double off the left-field wall to drive in Carone and Van Gorden, making it 2-0.

Following a Swaine single and an advance to second on the throw, Castleton sent both runners home in the next at-bat as Briley Blackbird reached on an error. McCormick completed the scoring with a single to center.

Remaining quiet at the plate for the rest of the game, Castleton still managed to tally four hits for a total of eight in the game.

Castleton returns to action at 12 p.m. on Saturday for its Senior Day doubleheader against Thomas.

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