Winter Haven, Fla. – The Spartans tied the first game in the bottom of the seventh, but eventually fell 6-1 in 11 innings before rebounding for a 1-0 victory in the nightcap to open North Atlantic Conference play at Chain O' Lakes Field in Winter Haven, Florida.
Castleton received a number of strong pitching performances as offense was in short supply, but none was more impressive than sophomore Steven Jurkiewicz who tossed a complete-game shutout in game two. The southpaw opened the game by striking out the side and finished with eight punch outs overall while allowing three hits and walking a single batter.
Sophomore Luke Salerno was strong in the opener, going the first 4.0 innings and giving up nine hits and one earned run while striking out a pair. Classmate Mike LaBeau was equally impressive, giving up two hits and striking out five in 4.0 innings. Offensively, Nate Swahn led the team with three hits on the day and recorded the team's only RBI on the afternoon.
Both Salerno and starter Thomas starter Derek Kane kept it 0-0 until the fourth inning.
Nik Beeson led off the top of the inning with a single and after a groundout, back-to-back singles loaded the bases with one out. Ryder Kenny smacked a sacrifice fly to right field to score a run before Salerno got out of the jam.
The score remained 1-0 until the bottom of the seventh, though both teams threatened multiple times. Dan Errico led off with a single and pinch runner Aaron Smith advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt before going to third on a wild pitch. A pop up had the Spartans down to their last out, before Swahn hit a ball to shortstop and the throw to first wasn't dug out of the ground which allowed Smith to tie the game.
Castleton and Thomas put runners on base in the ninth and tenth innings before the Terriers broke open the game with five runs in the 11th. Beau Ewton singled home the eventual winning run with one out and four more runs crossed following an error for the 6-1 final.
Freshman Zac Harrington took the loss for Castleton while Beeson earned the win after going 4.0 innings with one hit allowed and four strikeouts.
Game two was another pitcher's duel as Jurkiewicz was perfect through the first three innings. Castleton threatened in the bottom of the third before finally scoring in the fourth.
Jim Buckley ripped a one-out double to right field and Swhan followed with a double to right field, scoring Buckley. Soren Pelz-Walsh walked and Swahn advanced to third on a fly out by Taylor Vile, but Pelz-Walsh was thrown out trying to steal second, ending the frame.
The Terriers' best chance to score came in the top of the six as Thomas put runners on second and third with two outs. However, Jurkiewicz induced a fly out to left field to end the threat. He then sent the Terriers down in order in the seventh to earn his second win of the year.
Peyton Kennison took the loss in the game despite giving up just one earned run on six hits in 6.0 innings. He also struck out five while walking three. Beeson had two of the team's three hits and finished with five on the day.
The Spartans return to action on Tuesday when they host Thomas in a doubleheader beginning at 12 pm.