GORHAM, Maine – The Castleton softball team came up short at Southern Maine Friday afternoon, wrapping up the regular season. The Huskies swept the conference doubleheader despite Jamie Boyle's three-hit effort in Game 1 and Kate LaPan's multi-hit performance in the nightcap.
 
Southern Maine 10, Castleton 1
 
The Huskies (27-2-1, 13-1 LEC) took an early lead in the opener and didn't look back. They scored once in the first and used steady offensive production while Castleton (14-12, 7-9 LEC) was kept off the board until the final inning.
 
Allison Almond gave the Spartans their first run with a double to center field. Madison Hanna, who pinch ran for Machaila Arjavich, scored from on Almond's knock. Boyle led the team in hits with three. Hannah Mosher was just behind with two. LaPan and Devin Millerick also contributed hits for the Spartans.
 
Southern Maine's Kirsten Pelletier threw her 11th complete game in as many starts to stay undefeated in the circle. Katie Gallagher started for Castleton and pitched four and one-third, allowing six runs on nine hits. Olivia Bowen dealt the remainder of the contest and surrendered four runs to the Huskies.
 
Southern Maine 6, Castleton 4
 
Castleton took an early lead, but wasn't able to hold off the Huskies high-powered offense long enough to salvage a split. Southern Maine scored one early, but the Spartans answered in the bottom of the first, acting as the home team. LaPan singled, stole second, then scored on a double by Arjavich to tie the game.
 
The Spartans would then take a 2-1 lead in the third, thanks to Makenna Thorne's one-out triple. She was plated by LaPan's RBI groundout.
 
The advantage lasted until the fifth, when Ashley Tinsman hit a three-run home run to put the Huskies up 4-2. They'd tack on another in the sixth, but Gallagher stranded two baserunners to limit the damage after taking over for Olivia Joy.
 
A productive sixth put the Spartans back in the game. LaPan and Boyle started with back-to-back singles, Arjavich walked to load the bases, then Mosher walked to send LaPan home. Almond lifted a sacrifice fly to right field and Castleton was within one, 5-4.
 
Southern Maine used a walk and a double to add an insurance run in the seventh. Jayna Ryan led Castleton's half of the inning with a walk, but wasn't able to advance as the Spartans were set down in order.
 
LaPan led the charge offensively with two hits and an RBI. Thorne's triple marked her fourth of the season, tied for second-most in the conference.
 
Joy allowed four earned runs in five and two-thirds innings with a pair of strikeouts to her credit.
 
The Spartans will compete in the Little East Conference Tournament beginning on Tuesday, May 11.