The Middlebury softball team (9-6) swept a doubleheader against Castleton in its home-opening games on Wednesday afternoon. The Panthers won the first game 7-2, before triumphing 6-2 over the Spartans (7-6) in the night cap in five innings. Middlebury remains at home this weekend, hosting Williams in a three-game series beginning on Friday at 5:00 p.m.
The Panthers got things going in their first at-bat when
Jen McGann and
Abby Santis singled, before both advanced a base on a wild pitch.
Noelle Ruschil singled to left field to drive in McGann, before Santis scampered home on a sacrifice fly by
Sophie Bolinger for the 2-0 early lead.
Castleton cut the deficit in half in the top of the second when McKenna Thorne blasted a triple to center field before crossing home on the next play.
Cece Ziegler smacked a triple down the right-field line in Middlebury's half of the inning, but was left stranded.
The Spartans knotted the game 2-2 in the top of the third. Kate Lapan doubled down the left-field line, advanced to third on a passed ball and touched home plate on a double by Jamie Boyle. Ruschil ripped a homer over the fence to make it 3-2 in the Panther half of the inning.
In the bottom of the fifth, Santis singled to center field before Ruschil smacked her team-leading sixth home run to left field. Later in the inning,
Sophia Marlino drove in Bolinger with a single before
Tori Papaleo plated pinch runner Lizzie Hannafay to give Middlebury the 7-2 final score.
Jewel Ashbrook earned the win in the circle, pitching a complete game with just two runs on six hits.
Ruschil had two runs on three hits with a pair of homers and four RBI, while Santis was a perfect 2-2 at the plate. Ruschil now has 11 career home runs, moving her into a tie for third on Middlebury's all-time list. Bolinger had one run on one hit with an RBI, while Papaleo had two hits and an RBI.
Olivia Joy suffered the loss for the Spartans, allowing three runs on six hits over the initial four innings. Lapan and Thorne were both 1-1 for Castleton, while Allison Almond had a pair of hits and one RBI.
In the second game, Lapan reached on an error, Hannah Mosher walked and Lapan advanced to third on a double play. Lapan touched home when Kylie Wright singled through the right side, giving the Spartans a 1-0 edge.
The Panthers answered in their half of the inning. Ruschil doubled to right center and McGann singled, before both later crossed home plate on a two-run double by Bolinger.
Nina Schroeder followed with a double down the right-field line to drive in Bolinger, making it 3-1.
Middlebury increased its lead to 6-1 in the bottom of the fourth. Santis blasted a two-run double down the left-field line to bring home Papaleo and pinch runner Katie Likhite. Ruschil singled to advance Santis to third before Santis scampered home on a sacrifice fly by McGann.
Castleton's Kayla Fac singled to center, advanced to second on a wild pitch and later scored on a single through the right side to make it 6-2. Due to darkness, the game was called after the fifth inning.
Samantha Hausman improved to 4-2 for Middlebury, allowing two runs on four hits over five innings. At the plate, Santis had one run on two hits with a pair of RBI and a double. Schroeder collected a pair of hits and had two RBI.
Katie Gallagher allowed six runs on eight hits over 3.1 innings for the Spartans. Lapan went 1-1 at the plate with an RBI, while Fac went 1-1 and Wright had one hit and batted in one run.
