Spartans Charge to Victory Over AMCATS

Northborough, Mass. – The Spartans of Castleton State College erupted for a season-high 19 runs on 14 hits to cruise past the Anna Maria College baseball team, 19-1, in non-conference action Wednesday afternoon at the New England Baseball Complex.  

With the win, Castleton pushed its winning streak to four and improved to 7-3 overall, while Anna Maria suffered its seventh consecutive loss and fell to 7-17 on the season.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Castleton jumped out to an early lead in the top of the first. Poland led off with a single through the left side and advanced into scoring position after Benham reached via hit-by-pitch. After stealing third, Poland scored on an RBI-groundout by Mikell to give the Spartans a lead they never relinquished.

After a scoreless second frame, Castleton put the pedal down with runs in six consecutive innings. The Spartans added three runs on four hits in the top of the third. Poland walked to start the inning and used his wheels with a stolen base before scoring on a passed ball and a wild pitch. Lindau ripped an RBI-double to center field before Mikell capped off the inning with an RBI-single to push the Spartans lead to 4-0.

After scoring two runs runs in the fourth and another in the fifth, the Spartans extended their lead with two more runs in the top of the sixth. Mikell walked and Bahan was hit by a pitch before Matthew Jackson laid down a bunt single. With the bases loaded, Henrik Barbin scored Mikell on a fielder's choice and Bahan crossed home on a passed ball to give the Spartans a 9-0 lead.

Anna Maria got on the board in the bottom half of the sixth with an RBI-groundout by Tanner Jakola (Leominster, Mass.) before the Spartans responded with five runs in the top of the seventh. Pat Mumford walked and Poland singled before a double steal put both runners in scoring position. Benham followed with an RBI-single through the right side, and after Lindau was hit by a pitch, Mikell drove in two with a double to left field. Bahan and Jackson followed with back-to-back RBI-groundouts to give the Spartans a 14-1 lead.

Castleton added to its scoring outburst with another five-spot in the top of the eighth. With the bases loaded, Bailey finished off the scoring with his second hit of the inning on an RBI-single to make the score 19-1. That held to be the final score after a scoreless ninth. 

Mikell improved to 2-0 on the mound with six strikeouts and one earned run on three hits over 6.0 innings pitched. Matt Elliot (Attleboro, Mass.) falls to 1-3 on the season as he pitched 2.2 innings scattering five hits four runs and one strikeout.

WHAT'S NEXT?

The AMCATS host Albertus Magnus on Saturday, April 8 for a conference double header starting at 12:00 p.m. The game will be played at Clark University. Castleton returns to action Friday for a doubleheader at Apprentice with first pitch scheduled for 12 p.m.