CASTLETON, Vt. – The Castleton baseball team took on Keene State Tuesday afternoon in a rematch from earlier this month, besting the Owls 6-3 in the team's home-opener behind strong outings from their bullpen.
 
Max Olmsted (1-4) earned his first win of the season, throwing a scoreless fifth inning after starter Stephen Coffey allowed three runs through four innings. At the plate, Reece de Castro, Jake O'Brien and Addison Schaub all tallied two hits, with Schaub's two runs pacing the team.
 
Both teams scored a run in the opening inning before the Spartans (9-18-1, 3-9 LEC) took the lead with a two-run second frame. O'Brien kicked off the inning with a walk, advancing to third after Schaub hit a double to right field before a throwing error scored both runners.
 
Keene State (6-23, 2-9 LEC) responded with a two-run top of the third to tie the game at three, but Castleton took the lead back for good in the bottom of the inning via a sac fly from Schaub, adding insurance runs in the sixth and seventh inning to make it a 6-3 game.
 
After Coffey exited the game, Max Olmsted, Aubrey Ramey, Adam Winchell and Owen Phelps put on a clinic out of the bullpen, allowing just three combined hits over five scoreless innings, sealing the crucial win for the Spartans as the postseason approaches.
 
Next up for Castleton is a matchup with WestConn Saturday, April 30. The Spartans' seniors will be honored prior to the first pitch, with the first game of the doubleheader set to start at 12 p.m.