NORTHBOROUGH, Mass. — Marking the program's highest single-game run total since 2020, the Castleton baseball team turned in a 21-5 rout of Anna Maria Thursday afternoon.
Jackson Cardozo led the onslaught with a 4-for-5 day at the plate, doubling once and tripling twice to collect five RBIs. Reece de Castro logged a career-high six RBIs on two hits and three walks. Leaving the yard for the second consecutive game was Hunter Perkins who went 2-for-4 while knocking in four runs. Tyler McLain followed up his three-hit game at RPI with another against Anna Maria (7-9) while being one of four Spartans (7-9) to score thrice.
On the mound, six different pitchers toed the rubber for Castleton. Luke Russell held the AMCATS to one run on three hits with a strikeout in his first career start. Owen Phelps earned his first decision of the year, snagging the win in 1.2 scoreless innings with a punch-out.
Anna Maria collected three hits in the first inning including a solo home run, taking the lead before Perkins' blast in the third frame tied proceedings at 1-1. Ensuing back-to-back two-baggers by McLain and Cardozo gave Castleton a 2-1 advantage. Ethan Nichols relieved Russell in the home half, leaving the tying run stranded in scoring position.
The Spartans extended their cushion in the top of the fourth, going on a tear with two outs as McLain singled to score a run and Cardozo collected a two-RBI triple. AMC erased the gap in the next half-inning, using an RBI double and a three-run blast to make it 5-5. Castleton retaliated as Schaub got plunked and Dush and Lawrence walked to load the bases with one away. Perkins wore a pitch for the go-ahead tally, setting up de Castro for a two-RBI single to lead by three.
CU piled on two more runs in the sixth stanza as Perkins earned another bases-loaded HBP and de Castro walked for an RBI. A three-run seventh inning thanks to a Jack Boyle two-RBI triple and a Kannon Dush RBI single upped the deficit to eight. Meanwhile, Adam Winchell completed his second frame on the hill, keeping the AMCATS off the board while leaving two runners aboard in the sixth and seventh.
In the eighth, the Spartans tied their season-high of eight runs in an inning. As a team, Castleton amassed four hits, five walks, a sacrifice fly, and reached on error while sending 13 to the batter's box. Highlights include Cardozo's second two-RBI triple, de Castro's bases-clearing double, and Sammy Steinman's walk in his first collegiate plate appearance.
Jack Callahan and Nicholas Griffin tossed the eighth and ninth frames, respectively, holding off Anna Maria to preserve the Spartan victory and snap a three-game skid.
Returning to Little East Conference action this weekend, the Spartans have postponed their home opener and will travel to fourth-ranked Eastern Connecticut State on Sunday, April 2. First pitch of the doubleheader in Mansfield, Conn. is slated for 1 p.m.
