The Middlebury baseball team (24-10) broke the school record for most runs during a season on Tuesday, splitting a doubleheader at Castleton (11-20-1). The Panthers claimed the first game 11-6, but were edged 5-3 in the nightcap. Middlebury now has 329 runs this season, eclipsing the previous mark of 318 that was set back in 2006.
Both teams begin conference tournament play this weekend, with the Panthers hosting Tufts in a best-of-three NESCAC Quarterfinal series beginning on Saturday at noon. Middlebury earned the top seed in the west, while the Jumbos are the fourth seed in the east.
The Panthers got out to a quick start in the opening contest, scoring four runs in their first at-bat.
Beau Root singled,
Alec Ritch reached on a fielder's choice and
John Collins was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Root scored on a ground out and Ritch touched home on a sacrifice fly by
Sammy Smith.
Jack Stolper doubled to drive in Collins, before scoring on a single by
Nathan Samii for the 4-0 lead.
Trailing 4-1 in the second, Castleton's Addison Schaub singled, Dillon Pallotto walked and Reece de Castro blasted a single to right field to bring home Schaub. Pallotto took advantage of a Panther miscue and scampered home, before Evan Keegan singled to shortstop to drive in Castro to tie the contest at 4-4.
Middlebury responded in its half of the inning with Ashley hitting a single and stealing second, before later scoring on a fielding error. Smith crossed home on a groundout, and
David Byrne smacked his first career homer to left field to make it 7-4.
The teams traded runs over the next several innings, as Middlebury maintained a 9-6 edge after the top of the fifth. The Panthers secured the win in the seventh, tacking on a pair of runs for the 11-6 victory.
Justin Lessing earned his first career win on the mound, striking out five over the initial four innings.
George Goldstein closed out the game in the seventh, breaking the single-season record with his 19th appearance. Stephen Coffey took the loss for Castleton.
Root and Samii each had two runs on two hits with a double, with Root recording one RBI and Samii batting in a pair of runs. Ritch extended his hitting streak to 29-consecutive games with one run on one hit with two stolen bases for the Panthers.
Castro went 3-3 at the plate with two runs scored and an RBI, while Schaub had two runs on three hits with one run batted in and a homer.
The Spartans wasted little time getting on the scoreboard in the second game. Castro walked, advanced to second on a wild pitch and scored when Keegan doubled down the right-field line. Later, Jesus Cardenas reached on a fielder's choice and scored Keegan. Cardenas stole second, advanced to third on a wild pitch and touched home on a single by Schaub for the 3-0 lead.
Middlebury chipped away at the deficit, scoring once in the second and third.
Zip Malley's sacrifice bunt in the second brought home
Isaac Rosario. In the third,
Lucas Cai scampered home on a groundout double play, cutting the difference to one (3-2).
Lucas Flemming knotted the game at 3-3 in the fourth. He reached on a fielder's choice, advanced to second on a groundout, stole third and touched home plate on a wild pitch.
Castleton responded in its half of the inning when Cardenas blasted a triple to right-center, before scoring on a wild pitch for the 4-3 edge. The Spartans took a 5-3 lead in the bottom of the fifth when Ryan Lawrence scored on a balk.
The Panthers threatened in the seventh when Root walked and Smith doubled to left field, but Castleton recorded the final out to earn the win.
Cole Crider suffered the loss for Middlebury, allowing one run on one hit while striking out three over two innings. Max Olmsted allowed one run on one hit over two innings of work to earn the win for the Spartans.
Cai, Flemming and Rosario each had one run on one hit, while Flemming had a pair of stolen bases for the Panthers. Cai and Smith each had a double during the contest.
Cardenas had two runs on one hit with an RBI and a triple. Keegan scored once on one hit with an RBI and a double.
