Middlebury took two games from visiting Castleton, capping the sweep in dramatic fashion as rookie Hye-Jin Kim launched a 3-2 pitch to straight away centerfield with two outs for a two-run homer in the nightcap. Including the 3-1 win in the opener, the Panthers improve to 10-7 overall and host Wesleyan on Friday for game one of a pivotal three-game NESCAC West series. Castleton (3-9) returns to action on Saturday, hosting Maine-Farmington in a double-header.

In the opener, Middlebury jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead in the first inning. Christina Bicks drew a one-out walk, and scored on a single to left off the bat of Sarah Freyre.

The visitors responded with their lone tally in the top of the third. Brooke Naylor reached on a fielder's choice and came around to score on a RBI by Tori Fearon. In the bottom half of the frame, Middlebury took the lead for good. Kimber Sable opened the inning with a double over the center fielder's outstretched glove, and scored on a hard-hit single to right-center by Bicks.

The Panthers tacked on an insurance run in the fourth for a 3-1 lead. Carlyn Vachow led with a single to left center that was misplayed by the Spartan center fielder, allowing Vachow to advance to second. Kat Maehr followed with a double to left, pushing Vachow home.

At the plate, Bicks was 2-2 with an RBI and a run scored for the Panthers. Neve Stearns (2-2) picked up the win in the circle for Middlebury. She went the first four innings allowing one run on four hits, striking out six and not walking a batter. Maehr pitched the final three innings not allowing a hit or run for her first save of the spring.

Cassidy Tedeschi (0-3) took the loss, allowing three runs on five hits in five innings of work. Katie Gagne logged the final two innings, allowing one hit and striking out a pair.

Game two saw the Panthers strand runners in scoring position in each of the first four innings, including a one-out, bases-loaded situation in the second. Spartan hurler Veronica Arnone pitched out of the jam by striking out Sable and enticing Kim into an easy infield ground-out.

Middlebury starting pitcher Alexa Lesenskyj had an excellent outing in the circle, allowing only two base-runners on a pair of singles, as no Spartan reached second base over her seven innings of work.

After Lesenskyj put Castleton down 1-2-3 in the top of the seventh, the Panthers came to the plate, facing reliever Kayla Wood, who entered in the fifth inning. Bicks reached on a one-out walk and stole second as Sable struck out swinging for out number two. Kim stepped to the dish and found herself in an early two-strike jam. After building the count to 3-2, Kim launched a no-doubt blast to dead center to end the game.         

Four other Panthers had singles, as Kim's two-run homer, her first-ever home run as a Panther, paced Middlebury. Lesenskyj picked up her first win (1-2), while striking out seven with no walks allowed.

Wood (1-3) took the loss for Castleton, as she pitched the final 2.2 innings, striking out six Panthers before Kim's homer. Arnone tossed the first four frames, fanning two batters, scattering four hits and walking three.