Box Score AUBURNDALE, Fla. -- In the first-ever meeting between the two programs, the Castleton University baseball earned a 3-2, 11 inning win over Cabrini University Thursday afternoon at the Lake Myrtle Sports Complex. The Spartans, led by Davis Mikell, extended their winning streak to four games and improve to 4-2 while the Cavaliers fall to 3-4.
After the Spartans failed to produce any offense in the top half of the first inning, starting pitcher Cameron Goulet eased through the bottom half as he struck out the side. Goulet, who struggled in his first this season against Elmira, was phenomenal in today's contest as he pitched seven strong innings, surrendering only one run on two hits while striking out seven.
The Spartans, while on the four-game winning streak, have jumped to an early lead and today was no different. In the top half of the second inning, John Stewart III and Samuel Rodriguez led off with back to back singles. After Alex Borsari pushed the runners over on a perfectly placed sacrifice bunt, Reece De Castro gave the Spartans a 1-0 lead on a deep sacrifice fly to left field.
The Cavaliers evened the score in the fifth inning as the team finally figured out Goulet. Garrett Laraia led off the inning with a hard-fought walk followed by a Steven Priest fly out. With one out, Josh Piccareeta singled and Joe Aurite worked a four-pitch walk, loading the bases. With runners occupying every base, Shaun Stackhouse placed down a sacrifice bunt to drive in the tying run.
With a golden opportunity to take the lead in the top half of the eighth inning, the Spartans failed to take advantage. Jeremey Johnson, who continues to lead the team in batting average, started off the inning with a hit by pitch. After a Mikell sacrifice bunt that pushed Johnson over to second base, Daniel Petrie singled to center field and Johnson was waived around. The Spartans failed to score as Mack McKisson recorded an outfield assist as he threw Johnson out at home plate.
After Cavaliers preserved the tie in the top half of the eighth, the team would take the lead in the bottom half of the inning. As Thomas Fish entered the game for Goulet, he recorded the first two outs of the inning with a flyout and a strikeout. With a runner on second base, Brendan Van Belle picked up an RBI as he belted a single past a diving De Castro on the right side of the infield, giving the Cavaliers a 2-1 lead.
The Spartans, entering the ninth inning, would tie the game with the help of poor defense from the Cavaliers. With Drew Swire on the mound for the Cavaliers, Rodriguez began the inning with a leadoff walk followed by another walk as Borsari reached.
With two on and no outs, Nicholas Gares entered the game in relief of Swire and struck out De Castro. With one out, Ryan Lawrence worked a walk to load the bases, giving the Spartans another golden opportunity to score some runs. After Johnson struck out for the second time, Mikell came through and hit a sharp ground ball towards the right-center gap. After a phenomenal diving stop by the first baseman, Mikell reached on a throwing error, tying the game at two.
As the Cavaliers failed to win the game in the bottom of the ninth inning, the game went into extras. Neither broke through in the 10th inning despite opportunities for both teams.
The Spartans would take the lead for good in the top half of the 11th inning. With two outs recorded in the inning, Lawrence ripped a single up the middle and Johnson earned a six-pitch walk. With runners on first and second, Mikell came through again as he recorded an RBI single through the right side of the infield, giving the Spartans a 3-2 lead.
Adam Newton, who entered the game in the ninth inning in relief of Fish, earned the win in today's contest as he shut the door on the Cavaliers. Newton struck out the first batter he faced and then after a double by Brandon Loner, recorded a groundout and then struck out his final batter to end the game.
Castleton returns to action tomorrow, Friday, February 28 as it takes on Union College at the Chain O' Lakes Stadium in Winter Haven, Fla., with the first pitch scheduled for 9 a.m.
