The Castleton State College women’s softball team proved it is the strongest of the three Vermont State Colleges in Division III softball, winning three of four games over the weekend against Lyndon State and Johnson State. The Spartans opened their successful weekend Friday afternoon, playing host to Lyndon. Castleton came out strong against the Hornets with Castleton ace Tosha Whittemore on the mound. Whittemore pitched all seven innings for the Spartans, allowing just four hits, one walk and one unearned run. Castleton lit up LSC’s Sara Fetterhoff, who gave up 10 hits and five walks. Junior third baseman Hilary Bemis contributed with two hits and a scored run for Castleton on its way to a 6-1 win in the first game.

But it was the second game where Bemis truly shone. The junior threw a no-hitter for the Spartans in a 15-0 victory in just five innings. She also contributed at the plate with five hits and eight RBIs. Bemis struck two homeruns-one a base-clearing grand slam.

Freshman shortstop Lydia McPherson contributed to the offensive showcase with a pair of doubles. Spartan catcher Stephanie Wright had two hits and scored two runs in the victory, which increased Castleton’s record to 4-6.

The Spartans were back on the field Saturday for a doubleheader against visiting Johnson State College. Castleton had momentum going into the afternoon, but lost steam in the first game, and the Badgers came away with the 5-2 victory.
Whittemore was shaken up by the JSC offense, which scored five runs in the first two innings. Johnson’s starting pitcher, Allie Cunningham, started off the rally with an RBI double in the first. Morgan Rogerson singled, putting Cunningham at third. With runners at first and third, Brittany Lumsden singled to left, scoring Cunningham. Rogerson scored on a pass ball, and Lumsden later scored on a base hit by Lauren Wallace.

Castleton was unable to get on the board until the fourth inning.

Spartan Sarah Flore was walked, then later scored on an RBI double by Bridget Dusha. Dusha was then driven home by Whittemore, who singled. But the Spartan efforts were too little too late.

CSC battled back in the second game.
The two teams went scoreless for three innings until Dusha stepped up and crushed a two-out double to give the Spartans the edge. With runners at second and third, Shannon Jipner contributed with a two-run single. Jipner scored on a single by Heather Alley.

JSC fought back, taking a 5-3 lead in the fifth. A two-run homerun from Wallace was enough to shake Bemis, who gave up three consecutive walks. A sacrifice fly and a single gave the Badgers a lead before Bemis settled down and finished the inning with a strikeout.

The Spartans were not about to hand over another win to the rival state college. CSC scored 10 runs in the bottom of the inning, forcing an 8-run mercy rule victory. Bemis helped her own cause with a two-run homerun to tie the game at five. Wright drove in three runs with a single, and Amanda Gertenmaier followed with a RBI double. Alley got on base with a single, setting up Bemis for three-run homerun. Jipner added the final run, knocking in Flore.

Castleton is 5-7 (3-1 in NAC play) on the season and will travel to Sage College for a 3 p.m. game on Apr 14.