KEENE, N.H. -- Propelled by a Jake O'Brien sacrifice fly in the sixth inning, the Castleton University rallied to earn a 5-4 victory in the first game of the doubleheader over Little East Conference (LEC) foe Keene State, Friday afternoon at the Owl Athletic Complex.
 
After a strong first inning from starting pitcher Max Olmsted, the Spartans (1-3, 1-0 LEC) took the early lead in the bottom half of the inning. Hunter Perkins began with a leadoff walk while Evan Keegan reached on a throwing error. With two on and two outs, the Spartans took the lead as Reece De Castro's RBI single through the left side of the infield scored Perkins from second base.
 
As the second inning began, the Owls (1-1, 0-1 LEC) came back to tie the game as Brendan Eaton lead off with a single to right field. After a throwing error from Adam Newton and a Colin McKeon hit by pitch, a double from Trent Mayer and a single from Mark Barrett gave the Owls a 4-1 lead.
 
The Spartans wasted no time in making a comeback as both Armando Cardenas and Ryan Lawrence reached base in the bottom half of the second inning. With two puts on the board, De Castro once again singled, this time through the right side of the infield, cutting the deficit to 4-3.
 
The Spartans went back to work and plated the tying run in the bottom half of the third inning. With two on base for the Spartans, Cardenas recorded his second hit of the game, scoring O'Brien and tying the game up at four.
 
The game would remain tied until the bottom half of the sixth inning as the Spartans took the lead for good. Keegan began with a leadoff double down the left-field line and advanced to third base on an error. A sacrifice fly from O'Brien in the next at-bat would give the Spartans a 5-4 lead.
 
After giving up four runs (three earned) in the second inning, Olmsted was perfect the rest of the way as he pitched five solid innings while striking out six batters. Matthew Deen earned the win as he relieved Olmsted of his duties in the sixth inning and pitched four innings, giving up just two hits and striking out six batters.
 
With the Owls leading 11-6 in the second game of the doubleheader, play was suspended in the top of the fifth inning due to darkness and will be resumed at Castleton on Sunday, April 4 at noon.
 
Castleton returns to action Sunday, April 4, as it will play from today's second game will continue against Keene State, followed by another doubleheader. The first pitch for the doubleheader is scheduled for 1 p.m.