CASTLETON, Vt. – The Vermont State University Castleton softball team split a non-conference doubleheader with Clarkson University on Thursday afternoon, falling 14-6 in the opener before rebounding for an 8-3 win in Game 2.
Game 1
The Basics:
- Final Score: 14-6 Clarkson
- Location: Castleton, Vt. | Spartan Softball Field
- Records: 6-22 (1-9 LL) Clarkson | 18- 8 (10-2 LEC) Castleton
How it Happened:
The Spartans jumped out to an early lead in the first as the first two batters reached on singles.
Carolyne Burlone brought in the game's first run with a single to left center, and
Anna Winter followed with her first career home run, a three run shot to give Castleton a 4-0 advantage.
Clarkson responded with a two run home run to cut the deficit in half. In the third inning, the Golden Knights strung together three hits, including a key hit to center field, to pull within one run.
The Knights took control in the fourth inning, using another home run and additional hits to build an 8-4 lead. Castleton answered in the bottom half as
Caley Napoletano tripled and later scored on a single by
Chloe Green to bring the Spartans within two.
Clarkson continued to add on over the final innings, pulling away for a 14-6 victory.
Top Performers:
- Napoletano went 2-for-3 with an RBI.
- Winter went 1-for-1 with a three run home run, her first in her Spartan career. She also pitched for four innings with no walks and two strikeouts.
Game 2
The Basics:
- Final Score: 8-3 Castleton
- Records:19-8 (10-2 LEC) Castleton | 6-23 (1-9 LL) Clarkson
How it Happened:
Castleton struck first once again, as
Masson Billert reached on a fielder's choice before
Jordan Hill doubled off the center field fence to bring in two runs for a 2-0 lead.
The game remained scoreless over the next few innings until the fifth, when the Spartans added to their lead.
Samera Rideout and
Madison Gould each drove in runs with singles and
Makayla Walsh followed with an RBI double to extend their lead to 5-0.
Clarkson got on the board in the sixth, capitalizing on a pair of Spartan errors along with a couple hits to score three runs and cut the deficit to 5-3. The Spartans answered in the bottom half, as
Alex Brouillette delivered a three-run home run to left field to put the game out of reach and secure the 8-3 win.
Top Performers:
- Walsh went 3-for-4 with two RBIs and a run scored.
- Along with her three-run home run, Brouillette pitched a complete game with four strikeouts and three walks.
What's Next
The Spartans travel to Southern Maine for a Little East Conference doubleheader scheduled for 12 p.m. and 2 p.m.