CLARKSVILLE, Ark. – The Vermont State University Castleton baseball team picked up its first win of the 2025 season on opening day, downing Principia 15-4 in seven innings.

The Basics

The Spartans entered tonight's matchup with a 0-1 record, falling earlier in the evening to the University of the Ozarks. Principia came in 0-1, also falling to the University of the Ozarks earlier in the day.

How it Happened

The Panthers struck first with a double in the bottom of the first to pull out to a 1-0 lead. The Spartans wasted no time answering in the third inning with a single from Brandon Ramirez, and a triple from Mason Meinke. Justin Strozyk made his debut as a Spartan, grounding out to third, bringing in Meinke to put the Spartans up 4-1. Strozyk singled in the fifth, followed by a double out to center field by Jack Boyle, bringing in three runs to extend the lead to 10-1.

Strozyk singled to start the sixth inning, with Tyler McLain scoring, and Tommie Shaw advanced to first after being hit by a pitch, bringing in Meinke to put the Spartans up by 11. In the final inning of play, McLain singled to the shortstop, bringing in one run, with two more scores coming on the next two at-bats putting the Spartans up 15-1. The Panthers scored three times in their final at-bat, to bring the final score to 15-4.

Top Performers

Meinke totaled two hits on the day, with his first career triple. Jackson Cardozo, McLain, Trey LaVigne, and Strozyk each added two hits apiece. Three more Spartans notched one hit each.

Luke Russell earned the win, posting a career-high seven strikeouts through five innings, with Adam Winchell closing out the night in the sixth and seventh innings.

The Spartans head to Conway, Arkansas on Monday for a matchup against Hendrix College for a 3 p.m. EST start.