BENNINGTON, Vt. - The recently hot bats of the Southern Vermont Baseball team could only swat five hits in a 6-0 loss at home to the in-state rival Castleton State College Thursday night. Pat Warrington who is batting .400, went 2-for-3 in the loss that gives the Mountaineers a 5-14 record overall.
After a scoreless first inning, the Spartans' (7-8) Matt Eisenhuth doubled and Ted Mills singled Eisenhuth in for a 1-0 lead.
SVC's Tim Johnson, who went 1-for-4 from the plate on the day, singled in the second, but was left stranded.
In the third, Kyle Brooks reached on a fielder's choice and was hit home on a blast by Aaron Zrenda (3-for-5) over the right field fence to make it 3-0 in the Spartans favor.
After a scoreless third for SVC, David Raczka homered in the fourth to give Castleton a 4-0 lead.
Captain Adam Northup and Warrington got the offense going in the fourth but the Mountaineers could not bring them home as Castleton pitcher Tyler Erickson struck out Andrew Morin to end the threat.
After several singles to start out the fifth the Spartans scored their fifth run in the game with a bases loaded sac fly to the SVC centerfielder.
On the next play, starting pitcher Eric Wells made an exceptional play on a chopper several feet in front of the mound with a rocket throw to the first baseman Johnson to beat the runner.
A scoreless sixth for both squads, and in the seventh Mills got his second RBI of the day when he singled in Jack Lancelin who had got on base with a double.
The 6-0 lead is all the Spartans needed as the Mountaineers could not generate an offensive stance in the final two innings.
Wells (1-3) kept the Mountaineers in the game pitching seven strong innings striking out two and walking three.
Dave Gage pitched two solid innings of relief by striking out three for SVC.
Mat Tuthill (1-0) got the win for Castleton who pitched eight, striking out 12 Southern Vermont batters total.
The Mountaineers look to get back to their winning ways when they travel to NECC foe Mitchell College on Saturday.