CORTLAND, N.Y. – The Vermont State University Castleton baseball was defeated by Cortland Thursday afternoon, 9-6.

The Spartans (3-21) opened the game with three hits in the first inning. Jared Maher (3-4) reached base with a single and Jackson Cardozo (3-4) put down a double to get him and Maher into scoring position. Jared Cafasso (1-2) sent the runners home with a single to center field to give Castleton a 2-0. 

Cortland's Mat Bruno (3-4) knocked a triple with his first at-bat and would go on to score on a passed ball to give Cortland (17-8-1) their first run of the game in the first inning. The Red Dragons capitalized on a Spartans error in the second to score three unearned runs and take the lead. Cortland continued to expand on their lead with Bruno bringing in a single RBI and a run in the fourth inning to put them up 7-2.

Cardozo helped close the gap for the Spartans with his speed to reach home on a wild pitch. He followed up with a single RBI at his next at-bat to bring in Tyler Dubreuil (1-3) to shorten Cortland's lead. With runners in the corners for his final at-bat, Cardozo knocked his second double of the day to notch his second and third RBIs of the day.

Cortland added two extra runs late in the game to hold onto their lead and keep the Spartans from a late rally comeback. 

The Spartans return to action Saturday, April 13 at 1:00 p.m. against UMass Dartmouth in doubleheader action.