NEW BRITAIN, Conn. - The Castleton University softball team picked up a doubleheader sweep against Western Connecticut State to begin Little East Conference play Sunday afternoon at CCSU Softball Field.
Olivia Joy dominated in no-hit fashion to power the Spartans in Game 1 before a late rally led Castleton to a Game 2 win.
Castleton 1, WestConn 0
Joy's no-hitter led the Spartans (9-6, 2-0 LEC) to a Game 1 triumph, earning her third victory of the season with eight strikeouts and no walks. It marked the first Castleton no-hitter since Kayla Wood no-hit Thomas College on April 16, 2016. WestConn (10-10, 0-4 LEC) saw its lone baserunner in the fourth inning as Jada Miconi reached on an error. She would move to second on a sacrifice and later third on a groundout, but Joy recorded a key strikeout to end the frame.
Castleton broke a scoreless tie in the top of the sixth.
Hannah Mosher led the inning with a bunt single and advanced on
Machaila Arjavich's two-out single. Mosher would come around to score after a WestConn error. It was all the run support Joy would need.
The no-hitter was official after a groundout to
Allison Almond at second base.
Mosher led Castleton offensively, going 2-for-4 at the plate.
Kate LaPan,
Kayla Fac, Arjavich, and Almond notched the other Spartan hits. WestConn's Haley Golembiewski started in the circle and kept Castleton off the board through five and two-thirds. Sarah Milyko pitched the remainder of the contest and allowed the lone run.
Castleton 10, WestConn 7 (13 inn.)
A five-run 13th inning powered Castleton to the sweep. Almond put the Spartans on top 6-5 with an RBI single, scoring
Olivia Bowen. Fac drew a walk to score another and
Kate LaPan lifted a sacrifice fly to tack on what looked to be an insurance run before Mosher plated an additional two with a single - her third hit of the game.
Castleton posted two runs in the 10th inning, but WestConn responded with two of their own to continue the game.
WestConn held an early lead with two runs in the first inning, but the Spartans chipped away with runs in the third and fifth. The game was knotted 2-2 after LaPan's double, which plated Almond, who started the inning with a single.
The Spartans amassed 12 hits, led by Mosher with three. LaPan, Almond, and
Jamie Boyle collected two apiece. Mosher drove in four runs, while LaPan notched three RBIs. WestConn also posted 12 hits as four different batters contributed multi-hit efforts.
Kylie Wright went the distance in the marathon nightcap, pitching all 13 innings and allowing four earned runs with seven strikeouts to her credit. WestConn used three different pitchers, with Golembiewski eventually taking the loss.
Castleton returns to action Tuesday, April 12 when it travels to Keene State for another conference doubleheader. The opener is slated for 3 p.m.
