KEENE, N.H. – The Castleton baseball team took a three-run lead into the bottom of the ninth, but were unable to close out in their matchup against Keene State Tuesday afternoon, falling 6-5 in extra innings to the Owls on the road.
 
Max Olmsted put together his best performance of the season on the mound for the Spartans (5-14-1, 0-7 LEC), allowing just two runs — one earned — and striking out three batters through a season-high six innings. His play was matched, however, by Keene State's (6-15, 2-3 LEC) Phil Nichols, who allowed two runs through seven innings in the pitchers' duel.
 
After a scoreless first five innings it was the Owls who broke the tie, capitalizing on a passed ball to score the game's opening run. After the misthrow, Olmsted coolly retired to next three batters to keep it a one-run game.
 
Once Keene State got their bats going, Castleton returned the favor, scoring two runs in the top of the seventh to take their first lead of the game. Jackson Cardozo got things started with a double to center field before advancing to third off a deep fly ball from Jake O'Brien. A single from Jesus Cardenas would score the freshman and advance Addison Schaub — who had gotten hit by a pitch in the prior at bat — to third. Schaub scored on the ensuing at bat thanks to a sac fly from Ryan Lawrence, giving the Spartans the 2-1 lead.
 
That lead, however, was short-lived as Keene State leveled the score in the bottom of the inning. A scoreless eighth frame from Castleton's Owen Phelps and the Owls' Gregory Esposito would send the game into the ninth tied at two.
 
Schaub got things started for the Spartans in the ninth inning, earning the team's fifth walk on the day. Back-to-back singles from Cardenas — who went an impressive 3-5 on the day — and Lawrence would set up Hunter Perkins with the bases loaded and one out. The junior sent a shot deep to center field that was caught, but would allow Schaub to score and advance both runners.
 
Reece de Castro — who was 3-3 on the day — was intentionally walked to once again load the bases and bring up Tyler McLain. The freshman was hitless to that point in the game, but came up big when it mattered most, smacking a single through the right side of the infield to score both runners and give the Spartans the 5-2 lead, their largest of the afternoon.
 
Aubrey Ramey came in to close the game for Castleton, but struggled against the middle of Keene State's batting order. After retiring the first batter he faced, Ramey allowed the next five to reach base safely, with three crossing home plate to tie the game at five. The sophomore cleaned it up from there retiring the next two batters to leave two Owls stranded and send the game into extra innings.
 
In the 10^th, the Spartans went down 1-2-3 before Keene State hit back-to-back doubles off Adam Winchell (0-1) to steal the victory and hand Castleton a tough 6-5 loss.
 
The Spartans will look to earn their first conference win Friday, April 15 with a doubleheader at home against UMass Dartmouth. The day's opening game is set for 12 p.m.