SCHENECTADY, N.Y. – The Vermont State University Castleton softball team swept Union College in a non-conference doubleheader on Monday afternoon at Alexander Field. The Spartans took game one, 9-6, before earning a 6-0 shutout victory in game two.
Game 1
The Basics:
- Final Score: 9-6 Castleton
- Location: Schenectady, N.Y. | Alexander Field
- Records: 8-5 (2-0 LEC) Castleton | 6-9 (0-0 LL) Union
How it Happened:
Union got on base early in the first inning with a pair of singles but was unable to score, while Castleton's leadoff batter
Maddy Dudley walked but was caught stealing.
Samera Rideout followed with a walk, but the Spartans were quickly retired.
Castleton struck first in the second inning.
Sami Horton reached on a passed ball and
Carolyne Burlone walked before
Abby Hacker laid down a successful sacrifice bunt to advance both runners. Horton scored on a wild pitch, and Burlone followed on another miscue, giving Castleton a 1-0 lead.
The third inning saw Rideout double to center field, followed by a
Madison Gould single to advance her to third.
Alex Brouillette drew a walk to load the bases, but three consecutive popups ended the threat, leaving the score 1-0 Castleton.
Castleton broke the game open in the fourth.
Jordan Hill doubled to left center, and Dudley singled to move Hill into scoring position. Dudley then stole second, and Rideout's single to right field brought in two RBIs. Brouillette followed with a double, scoring two more runs to extend the lead to 5-0.
Union rallied in the fifth with a couple of well-placed hits, scoring three runs and prompting a pitching change as
Alexis Rogers replaced
Anna Winter. Castleton answered immediately, with Hill and Dudley combining for a run to make it 6-3.
In the sixth, Castleton added three more insurance runs. Hacker singled to center, scoring two, and Hill drove in Horton to push the lead to 9-3.
Union made a late push in the seventh, loading the bases and scoring three runs on a double and consecutive hits, but the Spartans held on for the 9-6 victory.
Top Performers:
- Rideout led the Spartans with two hits and two RBIs, while Hill added three hits and one RBI.
- Hacker contributed a key hit and two RBIs.
Game 2
The Basics:
- Final Score: 6-0 Castleton
- Location: Schenectady, N.Y. | Alexander Field
- Records: 9-5 (2-0 LEC) Castleton | 7-9 (0-0 LL) Union
How it Happened:
Castleton wasted no time getting on the board in the first inning. Dudley reached on a throwing error and Rideout was hit by a pitch before Gould singled to load the bases. Brouillette followed with an RBI single to left field, and Walsh added a two-RBI single up the middle to give the Spartans a 3-0 lead.
Both teams were held in check over the next several innings, as the game settled into a defensive battle. Brouillette dominated in the circle, recording multiple strikeouts and keeping Union off the bases through five innings.
The Spartans added insurance in the sixth inning with Rogers singling to left field before
Makenzie Eliot entered as a pinch runner. Walsh delivered again with a double to center field, driving in a run. Horton followed with an RBI double to left field and later advanced on a wild pitch, before Hacker singled up the middle to extend the lead to 6-0. Brouillette closed out the game to secure the shutout victory for Castleton.
Top Performers:
- Walsh led the Spartans with two hits and three RBIs.
- On the mound, Brouillette threw a complete game shutout, allowing no walks and striking out 12 batters for her first shutout of the season.
What's Next
Castleton will travel to Norwich University on Thursday, April 2, for a doubleheader starting at 3 p.m.
