NORTHBOROUGH, Mass. -- The Castleton University baseball team opened up the 2021 season as it fell to Nichols College in both games of the doubleheader Sunday afternoon at the New England Baseball Complex. 

Nichols 7, Castleton 0

For the first time in over a year, the Spartans took the field and Zack Marlow earned the start on the mound for the Spartans. As the team looked to begin the new season on a high note, the Bison struck first in the first game of the doubleheader. After a clean first inning from Marlow, the Bison scored in back-to-back innings and jumped out to a 5-0 lead. Marlow exited the game before the fourth inning as he gave up five runs (three earned) on two hits while recording three strikeouts. The Bison would add two more runs as Kyle Bouchard and Christian Naccari each hit solo home runs to solidify the win. 

Jack Dicenso earned the win for the Bison as he pitched six solid innings, giving up just three hits and struck out 10 batters.

Nichols 2, Castleton 1 (nine innings)

With Aubrey Ramey earning his first career collegiate start on the mound, the Spartans struck first in the second game of the doubleheader. After three scoreless innings from both teams, The Spartans took the lead in the fourth inning as Kannon Dush earned a bases-loaded walk. The Bison, however, tied the game at one in the bottom of the seventh inning after Bouchard's sacrifice fly brought in DJ Caron. 

As the game entered extra innings, the Bison earned the victory and the doubleheader sweep on a bases-loaded walk from Bouchard. Richard Walker took the loss for the Spartans while his counterpart Isaac Blanford earned the win in one inning of relief.

Castleton returns to action Tuesday, March 23, as it travels to Saratoga Springs, N.Y. to take on Skidmore College in a non-conference matchup. The first pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m.