The Castleton State College softball team is looking solid as the season nears it’s end, coming out of the weekend with a pair of North Atlantics Conference wins against Johnson on Saturday April 19.
The score remained at zero until the Spartans’ Brittany Brayman slapped a two- out double to left field in the 6th inning, starting the rally.
The top hitter for Castleton was Brittany Brayman with three hits and two runs scored. On the mound was Kayla Wood and Veronica Arnone who both pitched four innings apiece, clinching a combined 5 strikeouts.
For Johnson, Alex Bean, Anna Bingham and Emily Himberg each had one hit, with Amanda Coulombe scoring the only run of the day for the Badgers. Pitching was Andrea Williams, who stood strong for a full eight innings, and was able to strike out four.
In extra innings Castleton was able to pull ahead, ending with a score of 5-1 while advancing 8-13 overall and 6-3 in conference play. The Badgers fell to 6-14 overall and 5-3 in the NAC.  

The game changer was the 6th inning after Brayman doubled to start the streak and teammate Katie Gagne singled, allowing Brayman to reach home for the first run of the game.
The Badgers only run happened during seventh inning after Emily Himberg singled and Coulombe pinch running for her. Coulombe advanced to second on a Bean RBI. After two wild pitches she was able to score.
Scoring was even at 1-1 until the eighth when four runs were split between Castleton’s Jessica Babcock, Brayman, Cassidy Auger and Chelsea Grady.
Last at bat was Johnson who just couldn’t come back with another run.
The second game ran a lot more smoothly for the Spartans who won 13-6, putting them at 9-13 overall and 7-3 in the NAC. The Badgers dropped 6-15 overall and 5-4 in conference play.  

Brayman stepped up to the plate Castleton in the first inning as she got walked followed by a Gagne single. Then after an infield error and an RBI, Brayman was able to advance home. To conclude the inning was Babcock, Tori Fearon and Gagne who all progressed home on defensive errors.  

It took the Spartans scoring twice more in the second for the Badgers to kick it into gear when Alex Macey hit a homer, knocking teammates Sarah Voorhis and Bingham in.
Castleton didn’t break down at all as they added 3 runs in fourth, two in the fifth, one in sixth and holding Johnson at 3 until the seventh when each team scored one more to end the game.
The girls had a specific mindset going into the weekend and they new the games were crucial. Winning both to have a good shot at second place for conference play was the goal Babcock said.
Offense was really the key element that allowed the girls to clench both wins Brayman said.
“We produced at the plate and we got timely hits. We hit the ball solid as a team and played great defense and our pitchers did great as usual,” Brayman said.
As a team there are a few things they have been focusing on.
“Lately we have been working on communication, quality at bats, and clean sheets in the field. Our hitting really came through towards the end of the first game and we were able to continue with the bats to win the second game,” Babcock said.
Looking forward to rest of the season both Brayman and Babcock the team just needs to show up ready to play to their full potential from get go.
“We are a very talented team with all the potential to do great things we just need to put the pieces together,” Babcock said.
The ladies next contest will be on Saturday, April 26, at home against Lyndon.