JOHNSON, Vt. – Johnson State College wrapped up their regular-season schedule on Sunday falling 4-3 and 6-0 to visiting Castleton State College on Sunday in North Atlantic Conference softball action at Minaert Field. Johnson stands at 9-24-1, 3-12-1 NAC while the Spartans improve to 20-14, 15-1 NAC.
Game One: Castleton 4, Johnson 3
In game one Castleton's Shannon Jipner (Bristol, Vt./Mount Abraham) went 3-for-4 with a home run, two RBI, and run scored to key a 4-3 Spartan win. Bridget Dusha (Greenwich, N.Y./Greenwich) also connected on a home run going 1-for-3 with two RBI and run. Kristy Pinkham (Brandon, Vt./Otter Valley) also had a strong game at the plate going 3-for-4 with three singles.
Emily Sweeney (Weare, N.H./John Stark) earned the pitching victory for Castleton going the distance, scattering six hits, allowing three earned runs and three walks while striking out seven.
Johnson saw senior Morgan Rogerson (Hardwick, Vt./Hazen) go 2-for-3 with a solo homer, an RBI, and run and sophomore Erica Pustari (North Haven, Conn./North Haven) go 1-for-4 with an RBI single.
Meagan Russ (Burlington, Vt./Burlington) was tagged with the pitching loss allowing 12 hits and four earned runs while walking one and striking out three.
Dusha put the Spartans on top 2-0 in the top of the second with her two-run shot that scored junior Caitlin Mackey (Schenectady, N.Y./BFA-St. Albans). Jipner put another run on the board in the top of the third when she singled home Tori Fearon (Colchester, Conn./Bacon Academy).
Rogerson's fourth-inning solo shot made the score 3-2 and came following a run manufactured by sophomore Maria Gleason (Enosburg Falls, Vt./Enosburg) (pictured). Gleason doubled, stole third, and then scored on a passed ball to account the first JSC run.
The score moved to 4-2 in the top of the seventh on Jipner's leadoff solo blast giving the Spartans a very important insurance run heading into the bottom of the inning.
Pustari would drive in Kristy McDonnell (Quechee, Vt./Hartford) who pinch ran for Madeline Pritchard (North Clarendon, Vt./Mill River) who drew a one-out walk for the Badgers cutting the lead to one with two outs. Sweeney was able to induce a groundout by Gleason to end the threat and the game.
Game Two: Castleton 6, Johnson 0
Castleton junior pitcher Taylor Lively (Greenfield, Mass./Greenfield) tossed a complete-game, two-hit shutout that including seven strikeouts and no walks to lead the Spartans past Johnson 6-0 in game two.
A three-run fourth inning keyed the win that included a two-out, two-run single by Pinkham. Fearon would go 1-for-3 with a double and RBI and both Mercedes Maltbie (Warrensburg, N.Y./Warrensburg) and Caylee Fleury (Barre, Vt./Spaulding) were 1-for-3 with a double, a walk, and a run to support the Castleton offense.
Johnson's two hits in the game were both doubles with freshman Amanda McLean (Woodhaven, N.Y./HS for Environmental Science) connecting in the fifth inning and Rogerson lacing one to the gap in left in the seventh inning.
McDonnell took the loss for Johnson struggling with her control throughout walking seven, allowing six hits and five earned runs, and striking out three.
Both teams will qualify for the North Atlantic Conference playoffs and will await their Tuesday quarterfinal pairing which will be announced either tonight or Monday morning.