CASTLETON, Vt. – Dropping its fourth straight, the Castleton University baseball fell to Rhode Island College in a non-conference doubleheader Saturday afternoon at Spartan Field.
Rhode Island College 12, Castleton 2 (seven innings)
The Spartans (8-11, 6-5 LEC) fell behind early as the Anchormen (15-8, 7-3 LEC) took the lead in the top half of the first inning. Fueled by a Cal Parrillo RBI single to center field, the Anchormen took the early 2-0 lead before adding two more runs later on in the inning.
Trailing 10-0 after five and a half innings, the Spartans finally registered their first run of the game in the bottom half of the sixth inning.
Reece de Castro continued his stellar weekend as he led off the inning the inning with a single through the left side of the infield. As the Spartans began adding baserunners,
Ryan Lawrence came through as he recorded a single to left field, scoring de Castro from second base. The Spartans cut the deficit to 10-2 later on in the inning as
Johnny McComas reached on a fielding error by the shortstop as Jarret Williams scored the Spartans' final run.
Zack Marlow earned the start on the mound for the Spartans as he pitched six innings allowing seven earned runs on nine hits. Marlow also recorded two strikeouts, upping his season total to 20 which ranks him third best on the team.
Joseph Voli also made an appearance on the mound in the first game of the doubleheader as he pitched one inning, allowing two runs on two hits.
Rhode Island College 9, Castleton 2
After two scoreless frames, the Spartans took the lead in the bottom half of the third inning.
Armando Cardenas led off the inning with a double to left field. After de Castro grounded out to move Cardenas over to third base, Cardenas scored on a wild pitch to give the Spartans a 1-0 advantage.
The Anchormen bounced back in the top half of the fifth inning, scoring three unanswered runs to take a 3-1 lead. After recording the first two outs, Joey Coro singled through the left side of the infield and advanced to second later on a passed ball. David Iannuccili tallied an RBI single later on in the inning as the Anchormen tied the game at one. Two more runs were tallied in the inning as Cameron Santerre reached base on a throwing error for the shortstop
Zac Willis, scoring both Iannuccili and Ronny Morel.
Trailing 5-1 in the bottom half of the sixth inning, the Spartans cut into the lead as Cardenas came through once again. Cardenas, who recorded three hits during the second game of the doubleheader, tallied an RBI single up the middle, scoring Willis to cut the deficit to 5-2.
The Anchormen went on to score four more runs, including three in the top half of the ninth inning as the Spartans were unable to rally.
Richard Walker earned the start for the Spartans and played well, pitching five strong innings, allowing just one earned run on two hits in five innings pitched.
Castleton returns to action Tuesday, April 27, as the Spartans take on Plymouth State in a Little East Conference doubleheader starting at noon.
