GREENSBORO, N.C. – The Castleton baseball team fell against Guilford, 15-3, in a contest that lasted five innings before Mother Nature intervened Thursday afternoon.
The Spartans (1-2) settle for a series split against the Quakers (2-3). Reece de Castro and Tyler McLain each collected a double, the lone Castleton hits of the day. McLain's two-bagger brought in two runs while Evan Keegan bagged an RBI with his third sacrifice fly of the series.
Zack Marlow made his 14th career start, going 1.1 innings with two strikeouts before handing the reins to Jack Callahan, Ethan Nichols, and Luke Russell in relief. In his collegiate debut, Russell struck out the first batter he faced in a perfect fifth inning.
Guilford put up a stout offensive effort with 11 hits including two doubles and a home run. The Quakers also drew 10 walks while forcing the Spartans to commit three errors. After allowing three runs (two earned) on two hits in the first inning, GC hurler Jackson Marcellus allowed just one baserunner in the last four frames.
After leading off the game with a double, de Castro was joined on base by Hunter Perkins who reached via error. McLain doubled, knocking in both runners and moving to third after an unsuccessful throw to the plate. The Bethany, Conn. native scored after Keegan lifted a sacrifice fly to center field, capping off a 3-0 first inning for the visitors.
The Quakers picked up a hit with three walks in the home half, using a sacrifice fly and a throwing error to close the gap to 3-2. A breakout second inning saw Guilford plate seven runs on four singles while negotiating three free passes, taking a 9-3 lead.
Keegan drew an HBP to start the fourth inning, but an ensuing strikeout and 6-4-3 double play erased the Castleton scoring threat. GC led off their half-inning with a solo homer en route to a five-run frame, extending the advantage to 15-3.
Both pitchers retired hitters in order in the fifth inning, the game's final as proceedings were called by officials due to inclement weather.
Castleton makes a stop at Mary Washington tomorrow on the team's journey back northward. The Spartans and Eagles face off at 2:30 p.m. in Fredericksburg, Va.
