PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – The Vermont State University Castleton baseball team splits with Plattsburgh in the final contest of the 2024 season.
GAME 1: VTSU Castleton 7, Plattsburgh 5
The Spartans loaded the bases in the second inning, where Hunter Perkins brought in two runners with a single to right field. Tyler McLain also reached home on a throwing error on the same play to make it a 3-0 game. Jared Maher followed up with a double to bring Perkins home and extend Castleton's lead to four.
A variety of pitchers entered the game for the Spartans. Starting was Luke Russell, who saw three innings of action and dealt one strikeout, one walk, and three runs. Adam Winchell took over in the fifth inning and was credited with his first win of the season, after providing two strikeouts, two walks, one hit, and one run. Ethan Nichols took over the final two innings, dealing one K and one hit to earn himself the save in the victory.
Kannon Dush crushed a single to center field to bring in Mikey Raby Jr and McLain to extend Castleton's lead to six. The Cardinals earned three runs to close the gap on the Spartans. McLain responded with an RBI single with Jared Maher reaching home to give Castleton a 7-3 lead.
Plattsburgh brought in two more runs to trail only by two but would be shunned in the final three innings, as Castleton took game one.
GAME 2: Plattsburgh 12, VTSU Castleton 3
Leading off for the Spartans in game two was Jackson Cardozo, who reached base on an early walk by the Cardinals. He made his way around the bases and made it home after a fielder's choice allowed him to open the scoring and give Castleton the lead.
Plattsburgh responded instantly by scoring two runs in the first to take the lead over Castleton. They extended their lead with two more runs in the second and fifth innings to go up 4-1. Looking for a response, Brandon Ramirez sent a single up the middle to get the Spartans going in the sixth inning. Tommie Shaw doubled up the middle, which sent Ramirez to go home and earn the run. Shaw went for third while Ramirez was heading home, which resulted in the shortstop overthrowing the out at third and allowing Shaw to dash home and close the gap on the Cardinals by one.
The Cardinals went on and exploded in the sixth and eighth innings, combining for eight runs on 8 hits to take game two and split the day with the Spartans.
This concludes the Spartans 2024 season.
