MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – The Castleton softball team opened up their season at the NMB Athletic Complex in Myrtle Beach Thursday afternoon, dropping their season-opener to Ithaca before bouncing back with a come-from-behind win over University of Saint Joseph.
Castleton 1, Ithaca 6
The Bombers jumped out to an early 2-0 lead after a throwing error sent a pair of runners across homeplate in the opening inning. The Spartans (1-1), meanwhile, struggled to get their bats going, as Ithaca's Anna Cornell retired six of Castleton's first nine batters via strikeout.
The lead ballooned to four after three before the Spartans got on the board with a run of their own in the top of the fifth.
Alexis Rogers got the frame started with a double to left center, scoring on an RBI single up the middle from
Jess Heinrichs, the sophomore's second hit on the day.
Ithaca added two more runs in the sixth to take a 6-1 lead and claim the win in the day's opening game.
Olivia Joy made the start in the circle for Castleton, allowing four runs — two earned — in four innings before
Katie Gallagher let up two runs across two innings of relief.
Castleton 5, St. Joseph's (CT) 4
After a scoreless opening two innings, it was Castleton taking a 2-0 lead in the top of the third starting with
Kayla Fac in the nine spot. The fifth-year senior opened the inning with a single to left center before
Kate LaPan brought her home with a double to the same spot. A sac-fly from
Hannah Mosher two at-bats later brought LaPan home to put the Spartans up two.
The Blue Jays stole a run back in the bottom of the stanza to make it a 2-1 game before a defensive showcase commenced in the ensuing two innings in which the two sides combined for just two hits. Finally, it was St. Joseph's breaking the drought with a three-run sixth inning to take a 4-2 lead heading into the seventh.
With three outs left in the game, Castleton rallied to score three of their own and take the decisive 5-4 lead. Rogers got things going once again with a double to center field, stealing third before crossing homeplate on a throwing error by the Blue Jays' catcher.
Madison Wilson, Fac, and LaPan kept the bats rolling, hittting a trio of singles to load the bases before
Taylor Russell rifled a double down the left field line to score two and put the Spartans back in the lead.
Alexandra Brouillette entered the game in the seventh and allowed just one hit to earn her first collegiate save. Rogers — who went 2-4 from the plate on the day — nabbed her first collegiate win, allowing four runs — two earned — over six innings.
The Spartans return to action Friday, March 17 to face off against Franciscan and Worcester State University, with first pitch set for 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. respectively.
