KEENE, N.H. – The Vermont State University Castleton softball team's first Little East Conference series was cut short by pouring rain, but game-one action reached the point of completion to finalize a 4-1 Spartan victory over Keene State on Wednesday. The second contest is postponed to a date to be determined.

The Spartans (9-6, 1-0 LEC) were held to three hits but took advantage of the Owls' (4-15, 0-3 LEC) miscues as three of their runs were unearned. Allie Almond picked up an RBI single and walked, scoring both times, while stealing a base. Samera Rideout also reached twice, tallying an RBI base hit and a walk. Madison Gould accounted for VTSU Castleton's third hit as Brianna Belisle, the team leader in free bases, was plunked twice with a run scored.

Gould struck out seven hitters in five frames for the second time in as many days, bringing the rookie's pitching record to 5-2.

After scoreless first and second innings, Abby Hacker drew a leadoff walk to start the third stanza but was caught stealing moments later. Almond and Belisle were given free bases and moved up on a passed ball, setting up an RBI knock from Rideout. An Owl error in the outfield allowed Belisle to score as well to create a 2-0 Castleton lead.

Back-to-back doubles for Keene State in the bottom half of the third cut the host's deficit to one. Grace Wallace singled up the middle which sent Liv Whittier headed toward home, but center fielder Taylor Russell rifled a throw to Masson Billert whose swift tag kept the Spartan edge intact.

Billert led off the ensuing half-inning with an HBP and Mikayla Brightman forced an error on a grounder to the left side. Hacker's sacrifice bunt got the duo into scoring position, paying off when Almond ripped a ball to left field that plated Billert. Belisle wore a pitch to fill the pond, but KSC hurler Lilah Demmy took advantage of a force out at home in the next at-bat. With two down, a wild pitch brought Almond across to extend the gap to three.

Gould and Brightman threatened to score in the fifth, but Demmy worked out of her second two-runner jam. The Owls put three runners on the base paths in the home half with an opportunity to tie or take the lead. Instead, it was Gould's turn to shut down the threat on a swinging punch-out.

Umpires convened with both coaching staffs about the saturated playing surface ahead of the sixth inning, resulting in the game being halted.

The Spartans continue their fast-paced conference slate at Southern Maine on Saturday, April 13. The twinbill is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.