AMHERST, Mass. – Despite shutting out the Spartans over the final six innings, the No. 19/14 Amherst College baseball team was unable to overcome an early 11-3 deficit as they fell to Castleton University, 11-6 in non-conference play Sunday afternoon at Memorial Field.

RECORDS

Castleton (17-9)
Amherst (16-6)

GAME HIGHLIGHTS

• In a high scoring first inning, Castleton notched two runs before the Purple & White tallied three runs of their own in the bottom half to take a 3-2 lead. With the bases loaded and one out, senior captain Conner Gunn sent a double into right center to clear the bases.
• The Spartans responded in a big way, recording nine runs on five hits while shutting out Amherst over the next two innings to make it an 11-3 contest heading into the fourth.
• Amherst would tack on three runs in the bottom of the fourth to cut the lead to 11-6. After a Nick Nardone '19 walk and a single by Max Steinhorn '18, Yanni Thanopoulos '17 doubled to the center field wall to post two RBI's before Ariel Kenney '18 hit him home two batters later.
• Neither side was able to cross the plate in the final five innings of play.
• Thanopoulos paced the Amherst offense, going 2-for-4 with two runs and two RBI's, while Steinhorn finished 2-for-4 with a run. Harry Roberson '18 was the only other multi-hit getter for the Purple & White (2-for-5), while four other Amherst players notched a hit.
• Nick Swim went 3-for-5 with four RBI's and a run to lead the Spartans, while Deagan Poland finished 2-for-3 with three runs scored.
• Keenan Szulik '16 (2-1) took the loss for Amherst, pitching an inning while allowing five hits and seven runs. Chris Baldi '17 and George Long '17 each tossed three innings in relief, with Baldi giving up three hits and four runs while striking out one and Long allowing two hits and no runs while fanning three. Mike Castiglie '17 and Andrew Ferrero '19 pitched an inning each to finish the game, combining for four hits and no runs.
• Sam Spencer (4-2) earned the win for Castleton, allowing six runs and seven hits while striking out six in six innings on the mound. Steven Jurkiewicz pitched three innings in relief, giving up three hits and no runs.

BY THE NUMBERS

• Castleton held a 14-10 edge in hits.
• The Purple & White pitching staff fanned four and walked nine, while the Spartans walked three and struck out six.
• Amherst left nine runners on base in the matchup, while Castleton stranded seven.

UP NEXT

• The Spartans travel to Norwich University on April 19 for a 3:30 p.m. tilt.
• Amherst travels to Nichols College on Tuesday, April 19 for a 3:30 p.m. non-conference matchup.