Spartans' Early Deficit Too Much to Overcome at Clark

Recap, photo courtesy of Castleton

WORCESTER, Mass. – The Castleton baseball team fell behind early and was never able to recover, as Clark used a big fourth inning to fuel a 13-7 victory over the Spartans on Monday evening in non-conference action at Granger Field.

With the loss, Castleton falls below .500 to 6-7 overall. Clark improves to 11-7 on the season with the win.

Davis Mikell and Jonathan Lindau combined for four hits, four RBI, and four runs scored to lead the Spartans offensively. Castleton finished with eight hits in the loss.

For the third consecutive game, Castleton struck in the top of the first to take an early lead. After a pair of groundouts opened the frame, Lindau was hit by a pitch and Mikell extended the inning with a walk. With two on and two outs, Mitchell Caron smacked an RBI single up the middle to give the Spartans the upper hand, 1-0.

After Clark tied the game on an RBI single by Zach Kelley in the home half of the first, the Cougars opened a 3-1 lead on a two-run home run by Ryan Ruhlin in the bottom of the second. Mikell answered right back for the Spartans, smashing a two-run homer of his own in the top of the third to tie things back up at 3-3.

The level game was brief, however, as the Cougars exploded for seven runs on seven singles and two walks in the bottom of the fourth to blow the game open. After a groundout started the inning, four straight singles and two walks gave Clark a 6-3 lead. Kelley drove in two more with an RBI single, before back-to-back RBI base hits by Nick Jordan and Andrew Thibault extended the Clark advantage to 10-3.

Castleton loaded the bases with no outs in the sixth, but was only able to get two runs back. Alex Borsari scored one on a fielder's choice and Pat Mumford lofted an RBI single to right field to cut into the deficit. The Spartans were poised for more with runners at the corners and the top of the order coming to bat, but an inning-ending double play ended the threat with Clark still in command, 10-5.

Andy Kenosh fired three scoreless innings in relief, but Clark added three insurance runs on five hits in the bottom of the eighth. Lindau and Mikell notched back-to-back RBI doubles in the ninth, but it wasn't enough as the Cougars claimed the 13-7 victory.  

Cameron Goulet suffered the loss on the mound, allowing 10 runs on 12 hits with a strikeout and two walks over four innings. Kenosh was strong with three scoreless innings in relief, while Aaron Smith was tagged for three runs in one inning.

Kelley and Thibault each went 4-for-5 for Clark as the home team finished with 19 hits. Conor Walsh earned the win on the mound, allowing three runs on three hits with two walks