MANSFIELD, Conn. – The Castleton softball team opened up this year's Little East Conference playoffs with a matchup against Rhode Island College Wednesday afternoon, riding strong pitching and a three-hit second inning to a 2-0 victory over the Anchorwomen.
 
Olivia Joy was excellent in the circle once again for the Spartans (19-14, 10-7 LEC), allowing five hits and fanning three across seven scoreless innings, while freshmen Alexis Rogers and Alexandra Brouillette came up big at the plate with a pair of RBI doubles.
 
Neither side did much damage in the opening inning before Castleton broke the tie with a two-run second. Battling with one out Miranda Fish hit a bouncer to second base but beat the throw, setting up Rogers to hit a two-bagger to left center that would score the graduate student. On the ensuing at-bat Brouillette did the same, ripping a double to left that hit the wall, bringing home Rogers to go up 2-0.
 
Rhode Island (17-18, 8-9 LEC) threatened to cut into the lead in both the fourth and fifth inning, getting a pair of runners on base, but Joy was able to force a pair of routine groundouts to end each frame and keep the Spartans in the lead.
 
Castleton's defense shored up in the final two frames, with Erin Ricks — who entered the game in the third — making a couple of highlight reel catches before Joy allowed a lone single in the seventh en route to her eighth win of the season.
 
With the victory, the Spartans will play No. 1 seeded Eastern Connecticut tomorrow at 12 p.m.