BOSTON, Mass. - After dropping a Game 1 nail-biter, the resurgent Spartans bounced back to take Game 2. A five-run first inning helped Castleton salvage the doubleheader split.
Olivia Joy's complete game along with strong offensive outputs from
Kayla Fac,
Makenna Thorne, and
Jayna Ryan paced the Spartans in a 7-2 triumph.
UMass Boston 5, Castleton 4
The Beacons (1-1, 1-1 LEC) used a seventh-inning rally to claim the opener in walk-off fashion. Castleton (7-5, 4-4 LEC) led 4-2 heading into the final inning thanks to a two-run sixth.
Allison Almond singled to score
Erin Ricks.
Jamie Boyle, who singled earlier in the inning, crossed the plate after a wild pitch to put the Spartans ahead 4-1. UMass Boston got one back in home half of the sixth.
Castleton faced a 1-0 deficit before Fac's sacrifice fly plated Boyle in the second inning. The 1-1 tie would last until the fifth, when
Kate LaPan's double scored Ryan to give the Spartans a one-run advantage.
UMass Boston tied the game in the final inning after Tam Landry doubled down the right field line. The Beacons had the bases loaded when Tori Dicenso lifted a sacrifice fly to right field; Landry beat the relay throw to end the game.
Almond, Boyle, and
Machaila Arjavich combined for six of Castleton's seven hits. Almond earned her first career multi-hit performance with two base knocks.
Katie Gallagher started the game for the Spartans and pitched five and two-thirds innings. She allowed two runs on seven hits while striking out two. Joy pitched the remainder of the game and took the loss.
Castleton 7, UMass Boston 2
Following the Game 1 heartbreaker, Castleton put up five runs in the first inning. LaPan drew a walk to open the frame and scored on a Thorne double. Castleton would go on to load the bases before
Olivia Bowen drew a walk to extend the lead to 2-0. Back-to-back singles by Fac and Ryan tacked on three more.
Fending off a possible Beacon comeback, Castleton scored a pair of runs in the sixth. LaPan singled to begin the inning, then the speedy Thorne reached first on a bunt. Arjavich walked to load the bases before Boyle reached on a fielder's choice and two scored on a throwing error to bring the score to 7-2.
Joy tossed a complete game to earn her third victory of the season. She struck out four, including a key strikeout that ended the third inning to nix a potential Beacon rally, and allowed 10 hits without issuing a walk.
Thorne, who leads the team with a .421 batting average, went 2-for-4 at the plate. Fac also registered a multi-hit performance. Ryan led the team with two RBIs.
After strong performances at the plate, Arjavich, Boyle, and LaPan are locked in a three-way tie for the team-lead in hits at 12.
The Spartans head to Keene State tomorrow for a pair of nonconference tilts. Game 1 is set for 3 p.m.
