Bangor, Maine - In a clash of the North Atlantic Conference's top two teams from recent history, Castleton earned a three-game sweep over the Eagles on Saturday to begin their conference schedule with a 3-0 record. The Spartans earned victories by scores of 8-4, 5-1, and 6-2.
The pair of teams have split the NAC's past six conference titles. Husson claimed the conference championship last season and grabbed the title in 2011 and 2009. Castleton earned the title in 2012, 2010, and 2008. The two squads met on Saturday with likely playoff implications hanging in the balance.
In game one, the Spartans used a five-run fourth inning to complete a comeback over the Eagles, winning 8-4. Game two saw Sam Spencer throw a complete game one-hitter to lead Castleton to a 5-1 win. In the third game, Allen White drove in three runs and Adam Greenlese earned the win going 5.2 innings on the mound as the squad earned a 6-2 win.
In the opening contest, the Spartans found themselves down 2-0 after the top of the first. Castleton began the game with some sloppy defensive play, recording two errors on the first batted ball bringing home a pair of runs for the Eagles. The Spartans responded in the bottom of the first with a pair of runs themselves. After loading the bases with three straight singles, Matt McNamee brought home Allen White with a fielder's choice, and Macyn Clifford drove in Joe Borowski with a two-out single to center, tying the game at 2-2.
Steven Jurkiewicz settled in on the mound for the Spartans, ringing up six straight Eagles through the second and third innings. In the bottom of the third, Castleton took a 3-2 lead with a bases loaded single by Nate Swahn that brought home McNamee.
Husson responded in the top of the fourth with a pair of runs. Dennis Meehan smoked a home run over the left-center fence and Cody McInnis ripped an RBI-single up the middle to put the Eagles ahead 4-3.
Castleton took the lead for good in the bottom of the fourth, rocking starting pitcher Brandon Reilly for five earned runs on five hits in the inning. Dan Errico drove in White with an RBI-single and Joe Borowski, who doubled earlier in the frame, came around to score on a sacrifice fly by Clifford. Tyler Hoare drove in Errico with a single through the left side, and Taylor Vile drove in two more with a two-out single to make it 8-4.
Jurkiewicz pushed through the fifth inning and was relieved by Conner Johnson in the sixth. Johnson and T.J. Fearon each threw an inning in relief to shut down the Eagles and keep the Spartans on top. Jurkiewicz earned the win, improving to 2-1 on the season. The freshman allowed four runs, three earned on six hits in five innings pitched. Brandon Reilly took the loss for the Eagles allowing eight runs on 12 hits in 3.1 innings.
Game two was dominated by Sam Spencer on the mound for the Spartans. The pitcher mowed through the Husson lineup allowing just one hit over seven innings as he tossed his first complete game of the season. Brandon Gendreau knocked a home run off Spencer in the top of the fifth, but it was the only Eagles' base hit in the game. Spencer scattered three walks and fanned five to earn the win.
Castleton only mustered four hits on the game, but two of them were bombs. Joe Borowski and Dan Errico went yard back-to-back in the bottom of the third. Borowski ripped a three-run shot and Errico followed with a solo bomb as the Spartans earned the 5-1 win.
In the third game of the day, the Spartans handed the ball to seasoned veteran Adam Greenlese, trusting the senior to shut down the Eagles. Greenlese delivered, scattering five hits and allowing just two runs over 5.2 innings pitched. The senior walked three but rung up six Eagles with strikeouts. Robert Gould came in for the final 1.1 innings, earning the four-out save for the Spartans, his first of the year.
Allen White drove in the Spartans' first run with an RBI-single in the third to bring home Soren Pelz-Walsh. The following inning the Spartans broke the game open with a four-run outburst. Castleton tagged Dennis O'Neil for four runs on four hits in the bottom of the fourth to go up 5-0 on the Eagles. Chaz Millett singled and then came around to score on a fielding error. Two batters later Taylor Vile drove in Pelz-Walsh with a single, and Allen White drove in both Vile and Tyler Lord with a double to make it 5-0.
Husson drove in two runs in the top of the sixth on four hits, chasing Greenlese from the game. Gould came in with two outs and the bases loaded and forced a groundout to second to end the inning, stranding the tying runs on base.
Castleton added an insurance run in the bottom of the frame to make it 6-2. Tyler Lord drew a walk and was driven in by a double off the bat of Joe Borowski to increase the Spartan lead. Gould finished off the Eagles in the top of the seventh to earn his first save of the year and complete the three-game sweep for the Spartans.
Allen White finished the day going 3-for-7 from the plate, while Joe Borowski went 4-for-9, Dan Errico went 3-for-6 Taylor Vile batted 4-for-8 on the day. Borowski finished with a home run, a double, and four RBI on the day, while Errico and White each drove in three runs.
Castleton improves to 6-4 on the season and opens their NAC schedule with a 3-0 record. The Spartans is scheduled to return to action on April 1 at New England College, weather permitting.