MIDDLEBURY, Vt. - The Castleton University softball team dropped both ends of a twinbill at Middlebury Wednesday afternoon. The Spartans mounted an early comeback in the opener before seeing Game 1 slip away, and weren't able to quell the hot Panther bats in the nightcap.
Middlebury 7, Castleton 2
The Spartans (7-6) battled back after allowing a pair of first-inning runs to tie the game at 2-2 in the third inning on a
Jamie Boyle double.
Allison Almond put Castleton on the board an inning prior with an RBI groundout, plating
Makenna Thorne, who legged out a triple.
Noelle Ruschil's first of two home runs, a solo shot in the third, gave the Panthers (9-6) a lead they wouldn't surrender. Her fifth-inning blast tacked on two more runs.
Castleton collected six hits, led by Almond, who went 2-for-3 at the plate with a double. Four Panthers garnered multiple hits, including a 3-for-4 performance by Ruschil.
Starting pitcher
Olivia Joy settled in after allowing two early runs, keeping the tough Panther lineup off the board in the second and fourth innings to allow Castleton to stay within striking distance.
Jess Heinrichs pitched the remaining two frames and gave up four runs. Middlebury's Jewel Ashbrook went the distance in the circle to earn the win.
Middlebury 6, Castleton 2
Castleton struck first via
Kylie Wright's first-inning single, but couldn't stay on top as the Panthers responded with three runs in the home half of the first with back-to-back doubles. Three fifth-inning hits gave Castleton some life late in Game 2, but only
Kate LaPan's one-out single sent home a run.
The Spartans' four hits came courtesy of LaPan, Wright,
Hannah Mosher, and
Kayla Fac. Middlebury posted nine hits, including four doubles.
Starter
Katie Gallagher took the loss with three and a third to her credit.
Olivia Bowen finished the game and allowed just one hit in an inning and two-thirds.
The Spartans return home Saturday afternoon, opening Little East Conference play with a doubleheader against UMass Dartmouth beginning at 12 p.m.
