CASTLETON, Vt. – The Vermont State University Castleton softball team won its first home game of the year via run rule before executing a game-two comeback to finish the day 2-0 against MCLA on Tuesday afternoon.
Taylor Russell connected for three hits, knocking in the Spartans' (8-6) go-ahead tally in the second contest, and scored a team-high four runs. Masson Billert had a breakout day at the plate as the sophomore went 3-for-3 to set a new career high in hits, collected two RBIs, and secured her first two stolen bases in the opener. Madison Gould also posted three base knocks, scoring three times while swiping a pair of bags. Plugged into the starting lineup for the nightcap, Mikayla Brightman blasted two hits including a double to plate a run.
Game 1: VTSU Castleton 8, MCLA 0
Gould tossed her first career shutout in five complete frames, tearing through the MCLA (6-15) lineup with seven strikeouts while giving up just three hits and one walk.
The bats picked up in the second inning as Gould had to work around a Maddy Teta double in the top half. Russell led off with an HBP and Gould moved her into scoring position with a pull-side single. Billert found the same hole with a base knock to score Russell, then Abby Hacker delivered a hit to right-center that brought two runs across. With two away and Hacker 60 feet from home, Brianna Belisle drilled a deep gap shot for an RBI triple to cap off a four-run frame.
In the bottom of the third, Russell and Gould reached again with base hits as both ventured into scoring position. Billert came in clutch with an RBI knock and snatched second to set the same table for Maddie Wilson whose groundout allowed Gould to score, extending the gap to 6-0.
The Trailblazers had their best scoring opportunity in the ensuing half-inning when Ella Staffier singled, stole second, and took third on a passed ball with one out. However, a line drive to the hot corner off the bat of Maggie Closinski was nabbed by Belisle who tagged a vacant third base, turning two to ice the surge.
Samera Rideout embellished the lead with a sac fly to plate Allie Almond in the fifth, putting the Spartans one run away from ending the contest early. Russell singled and stole second, moving to third on Billert's third hit of the game. A wild pitch found the backstop, opening the window for Russell to notch the game-ending run in an 8-0 blanking.
Game 2: VTSU Castleton 4, MCLA 3
Trista DeLong toed the rubber in the series finale, logging a quality start with two earned runs on five hits and no walks as the junior fanned five MCLA batsmen – her highest mark in green and white. In relief, Alexis Rogers spun two scoreless, hitless innings in her first outing since March 16 to earn the win and improve to 2-0.
DeLong had a dominant first frame in the circle, working counts in her favor to strike out the side. The Hudson Falls, N.Y. native caught a fourth batter looking to strand the Trailblazers' first base runner in the second.
The middle section of the lineup kept sizzling as Russell reached on an errant throw and raced into scoring position safely. Gould placed a hit to left field to put runners on the corners, then bolted to second herself. The pair moved ahead on a wild pitch during Brightman's first plate appearance of the day, giving Castleton an early 1-0 edge. The rookie outfielder found her pitch and pushed it to right field as Gould came across to make it a two-run ballgame.
MCLA rallied with two outs in the top of the third, stringing together a couple of hits and capitalizing on a Spartan miscue to erase the deficit and tie proceedings at 2-2. Madyson Torres knocked in the go-ahead run on an RBI single in the fourth to put the visitors in front. Another two-out wave started to form in the fifth, but DeLong forced a groundout to terminate the threat.
Almond began the sixth with a knock through the left side and Rideout sprayed a single to right field, putting runners at first and third for Rogers. A sacrifice liner to center field brought tying runner Almond across home plate and moved Rideout to second as head coach Eric Ramey opted for pinch runner Jordan Hill. Russell came through with a two-out single to left-center to bring in Hill and take the lead back.
Rogers got two Trailblazers to whiff in the top of the seventh, drawing a grounder to Almond to record the third out and finalize a 4-3 triumph.
The Spartans take a trip southeast to Keene State tomorrow (April 10) for their first Little East Conference series. The doubleheader is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m.
