CASTLETON, Vt. – Castleton recorded 14 runs from 15 hits to capture its second straight North Atlantic Conference Championship and third in the last four seasons with a 14-2 victory over the Thomas Terriers this afternoon at Spartan Field.
The Spartans were perfect in tournament play with an opening day win over Maine-Farmington before defeating the Terriers twice, 12-1 and 14-2. With this victory, Castleton now stands at 31-10 on the season and secures an automatic berth into the 2015 NCAA Baseball Tournament. Thomas, meanwhile, finishes its season at 18-22 overall.
Steven Jurkiewicz was fantastic, tossing seven innings of one-hit baseball with two strikeouts to notch his team-leading seventh win of the season. For the tournament, Castleton used only six pitchers and allowed just 16 hits and four total runs in 27.0 innings while striking out 17 batters with a 1.33 team ERA.
Offensively, Dan Errico led the attack with three hits, two runs and five RBIs as he finished just a home run shy of the cycle. NAC Tournament MVP Nick Swim went 3-for-5 at the plate with two RBIs to finish with eight RBI and a .533 average during Tournament play. Zach Bahan drove in three runs of his own, including a two-run home run as he also had three hits.
Castleton didn't waste any time in setting the tone, as the reigning NAC Champions manufactured five runs off three hits in the bottom of the first to take a 5-0 lead. After back-to-back runners reached base to open the inning, Swim singled through the left side of the infield to plate the first runner of the game. Errico followed with a bases-clearing triple before Nate Swahn brought him home with a single to right. Tyler Hoare capped off the scoring with a fielder's choice to short to drive in the fifth Spartan run of the afternoon and put the squad ahead by five.
In the second, Errico drove home his third run of the ballgame to push the hosts' lead to six. With one out in the frame, Taylor Vile dropped a bunt down the third base line for a single, and two batters later, Errico mashed a double to straightaway center to bring home the second baseman home and give Castleton a 6-0 lead.
After adding a run in the fourth, the Spartans tacked on two more in the following frame. Jim Buckley led off the inning with a line drive single to right before Bahan belted a two-run shot to left center to stake the Spartans to a 9-0 advantage.
Thomas finally got on the board in the top of the sixth with one run to close the gap to eight. Jurkiewicz walked the first three batters of the frame before Michael de Los Santos grounded into a 4-6-3 double play that allowed the first Terrier run of the game to score.
However, the Spartans responded in the bottom half of the inning with two runs of their own to go ahead by ten. Swim led off the frame with a ground-rule double to center, and Errico followed with a RBI single to left. After Swahn flew out, Buckley and Hoare hit back-to-back singles before Bahan ripped a shot into right to plate a run and give the hosts an 11-1 lead.
Ryder Kenney broke up Jurkiewicz's no-hit bid in the top of the seventh after doubling to deep left center, but Matt Ravey came in to close the door with two innings in relief to secure back-to-back conference championships for Castleton with a 14-2 decision.
Peyton Kennison took the loss for Thomas after giving up four runs off of two hits. De Los Santos singled and walked to led the team offensively.
The Spartans will find out their NCAA Tournament fates next Sunday, May 10 when the NCAA releases its 2015 bracket.
All-Tournament Team
Nick Swim – Castleton – MVP
Devin Hayes – Castleton
Tyler Hoare – Castleton
Dominic Esposito – Thomas
Michael De Los Santos – Thomas
Anree Benitez – Thomas
Tom Grady – Maine-Farmington
Dustin McCrossin – Maine-Farmington
Kyle Bishop – Husson
Jordan Carter – Husson