NEW LONDON, Conn. – The Spartans produced a pair of comeback, extra-inning wins this afternoon to sweep the Coast Guard Bears in a two-game, non-conference set at Nitchman Field. With the victories, Castleton climbs back to .500 at 6-6 overall, whereas move to 6-7 on the year after losing their third consecutive game.
Game One
The Spartans rallied from a 4-2 deficit to force extra innings en route to an 8-5 victory over Coast Guard in game one of today's doubleheader.
Jim Buckley led the charge, going 2-for-4 at the plate with one home run and three RBIs. Deagan Poland was 2-for-2 with two runs scored, while Nick Swim drove in a pair of runs to push his season RBI total to ten. Michael LaBeau picked up the win after throwing 5.2 innings in relief and allowing three runs (two earned) with six strikeouts.
Timbo Duncan paced the Bears attack with a double and two RBIs. Walter Harris suffered the loss with six runs (three earned) in four innings of work, as the Golden Bears dropped their second straight contest.
Buckley opened the scoring in the top of the second with a solo shot to right to put the Spartans ahead, 1-0. The Bears got one back just two innings later to tie the contest at one.
Castleton was back at it in the top of the fifth with its second run of the day to reclaim the lead. With a runner on third and two outs, Swim put the ball in play, which forced a throwing error and allowed Skylar LaFerriere to score and put the away side back in front, 2-1.
That lead didn't last long however, as the Coast Guard responded with three runs in the bottom half of the frame to take its first lead of the game. Duncan slapped an RBI single to right before back-to-back Bears reached base to load the bases. In the next at-bat, a Castleton error allowed another run to score, followed by a bases-loaded walk later in the frame to give the hosts a 4-2 lead.
The Spartans found an answer in the top of the seventh. With two on and nobody out, Swim ripped a bases-clearing single to center to bring the game back to level terms at 4-4. Castleton had multiple chances to break the deadlock in the eighth and ninth innings, but the squad couldn't take advantage and stranded four runners.
In the top of tenth, the Spartans came alive with four runs from two hits to grab an 8-4 lead. Swim brought home the first two runs of the frame with a fielder's choice before Buckley ripped a two-run single to center to push the squad's advantage to four. The Bears were able to get one back in the bottom of the tenth, but LaBeau shut the door to secure an 8-5, Castleton victory.
Game Two
Castleton, once again, left it late in game two of the doubleheader, scoring three runs in the final two innings of play to secure a come-from-behind, 4-2 victory and complete the two-game sweep.
Luke Salerno delivered one of the best performances of his career, throwing a complete game with just two runs allowed and seven strikeouts to pick up his first win of the season. His counterpart, Eric Vrissis, was equally as good, giving up just two runs (one earned) in seven innings of work, while Justin Rehholz took the loss after allowing two runs in relief.
The Spartans were outhit in the contest 8-5, but the squad took advantage of the Bears' three defensive miscues to pick up the win. Buckley had another stellar game at the plate, recording two hits with one run scored to push his batting average to .351 on the year. Taylor Vile managed to score twice despite going hitless at the plate, while Zach Bahan produced a pair of RBIs.
For Coast Guard, Will Stephens and Cory Sonnega led the lineup with two hits apiece, as the squad dropped under .500 with the sweep for the first time since February 27.
Castleton wasted little time to jump in front with a run in the top of the first to take the lead. Bahan picked up the RBI with a grounder deep in the hole that brought Vile home to make it 1-0.
The Bears found a response when Stephens tied the game with an RBI single to center in the third, and in the following frame, Sonnega ripped a run-scoring single of his own to give the hosts a 2-1 lead.
That lead lasted until the top of the seventh when Mike Ferro brought home the game-tying run. With runners in scoring position, the junior laid down a sacrifice bunt that brought home Dylan Bailey to tie the game at two and force extra innings. And in the top of the eighth, Mitchell Caronbrought home the go-ahead run with a two-out single to left. Buckley drove in an insurance run in the next at-bat and Salerno pitched a near-perfect ninth to bring the game to its final score, 4-2.
The Spartans are back in action on March 26-29 when they travel to Winter Haven, Florida to open conference play with a four-game set against Thomas before facing Wisconsin Whitewater.