The Middlebury baseball team pushed across eight runs in the top of Wednesday's fourth inning, but Vermont State University Castleton erased a six-run deficit to win 14-13 on a walk-off home run in the 10th inning.
HIGHLIGHTS
- The guests opened the contest with a four-spot. Sam Gersch walked and swiped second before trotting home when Henry Ayers belted a two-run homer. Pablo Spielman-Rodriguez also drew a free pass and came around to score on an RBI double from Aidan Han. Teammate Anthony Pellagrini capped the spurt on a two-bagger that plated Han.
- In the bottom of the third inning, the Spartans penned a strong response. Tripp Shytle knocked a single through the middle before a Joe Castellano walk put runners on first and second. Alex McClelland legged out a bunt single to score a run, while Castellano crossed the plate on a groundout in the next at-bat. Trey LaVigne leveled the contest with a two-RBI roundtripper that Carter Dickinson mirrored later in the frame to give the hosts a 6-4 edge.
- The Panthers grabbed the lead back a frame later. Dominick DeMatteo was plunked and advanced to second on a Gersch bunt base hit. Ayers singled to load the bases before Joe Basso plated two with a base knock between the middle infielders. Spielman-Rodriguez cleared the bases with a three-run long ball, restoring a 9-6 lead for the navy and white.
- Middlebury was not done in the session. With one away, Aiden Han and Pellagrini worked back-to-back free passes before Cooper Bohlig doubled in Han. Alexander Glasscock lifted a sacrifice fly to left field that plated Pellagrini. DeMatteo tucked a base knock inside the left-field line to allow Bohlig to score, extending the lead to six (12-6).
- A busy bottom half helped Castleton trim the margin. Four straight walks plated the seventh Spartan run before Justin Strozyk allowed Castellano to dart home on a sacrifice fly. Josh Misiaszek followed with an RBI single that established a 12-9 ballgame.
- The hosts cut the deficit to one in the ensuing stanza. Mikey Raby Jr. coaxed a base on balls and Shytle logged an infield single. After a Castellano walk loaded the bases, LaVigne drew a walk to add a tally and Strozyk plated Shytle with an infield knock (12-11).
- A two-run blast from Raby Jr. gave Castleton the advantage in the sixth, 13-12.
- The Panthers knotted the tilt at 13-13 in the seventh when Gersch uncorked a two-bagger down the line in right field and trotted home on a single from Ayers.
- The eighth and ninth innings went by quietly before Strozyk walked it off in the 10th inning on a solo shot to grab the 14-13 victory.
NOTES
- Gersch finished 4-for-5 with a double and three runs scored.
- Ayers tallied four hits, including a home run. He also tallied three RBI.
- Spielman-Rodriguez drove in three Middlebury runners in the battle.
- The sides squared off for the second time this season and the 71st overall, with the navy and white owning a 39-33 advantage.
The Panthers return to the Baseball & Softball Complex on Friday to open a three-game NESCAC West series against Williams. First pitch is set for 4:00 p.m.
