MANSFIELD, Conn. – The Castleton baseball team dropped both ends of its doubleheader at defending national champion Eastern Connecticut State, falling 14-1 and 13-5 to the No. 4 Warriors.
The Spartans (7-11, 0-4 LEC) were led at the dish by Tyler McLain as the sophomore infielder collected hits in both contests, going 4-for-7 with a double, a walk, and four RBIs. Evan Keegan's game-one base hit marked the 100th of his career, joining Reece de Castro who passed the milestone earlier this season. The Malone, N.Y. native went on to combine for a 3-for-6 afternoon with a double.
Game 1: Eastern Connecticut State 14, Castleton 1 (7 innings)
Sam Crawford got the start in game one before giving way to relievers Owen Phelps, Adam Winchell, and Nicholas Griffin. Winchell tied his career high of three strikeouts in 3.0 innings while allowing just one runner to score.
The Warriors (17-3, 4-0 LEC) tallied 13 hits and benefitted from 10 walks, forcing the Spartan defense to commit four errors. Of Eastern's 14 runs, 10 were scored in the opening half-inning.
Castleton put a run across in the opening frame thanks to a double from de Castro which set up an RBI single off the bat of McLain. In the sixth inning, Keegan knocked a one-out single and Addison Schaub drew a walk. However, the Warriors turned a double play to end the stanza unscathed.
To lead off the seventh, Kannon Dush worked a leadoff walk and advanced into scoring position. The Chandler, Ariz. native stole third base with one down, but ECSU's Mike Furgalack retired the next two hitters on strikes to finalize proceedings.
Game 2: Eastern Connecticut State 13, Castleton 5
In game two, Aubrey Ramey tossed 5.0 innings with three strikeouts but the Warrior bats remained hot with seven earned runs on 10 hits being charged to the CU starter. Despite walking three, Zack Marlow pitched two solid frames with just one hit and no runs allowed, striking out a trio. Brayden Howrigan closed it out, throwing the eighth and ninth stanzas while picking up a K with no walks, five hits, and six runs (none earned).
Powered by McLain's three hits and three RBIs at the plate, the Spartan offense came alive with a nine-hit contest. Keegan and Kannon Dush also had multiple hits, logging two apiece as Dush also swiped two bases.
Held scoreless for the first seven frames, the Spartans began to gain some traction in the bottom of the eighth against a 9-0 deficit. Dush singled to start the half-inning, then stole second and third. Ryan Lawrence drew a walk to bring the top of the lineup to bat. Hunter Perkins got a base knock to score Dush as McLain followed with a double, plating Lawrence. After Jackson Cardozo grounded into a fielder's choice, Keegan came up big with an RBI single to cut the gap to 9-3 after eight complete.
The Warriors saw four runs come across in the top of the ninth to extend the lead to 10. However, Castleton kept fighting as Schaub wore a pitch to start the Spartans' last opportunity. Tyler Dubreuil was subbed in as a pinch runner before Dush added a single. De Castro clubbed a single to right field, loading the bases with one out. Two batters later, McLain laced a left-side single to score Dubreuil and Dush but the late surge was not enough as the Warriors ended the frame with a K, completing the sweep.
UP NEXT
Castleton is set to host its first home contests of the season this week, beginning with Skidmore on Tuesday, April 4 at 4 p.m.
