CASTLETON, VT -- Alyssa Wolejko pitched a shutout and had four hits on the day, and
Samantha Chevalier drove in five runs in Union's softball sweep over Castleton. The Dutchwomen improved to 9-16 with 8-0 and 7-3 wins (the first game was in five innings).
The Spartans generated 13 hits on the afternoon compared to 22 for the Dutchwomen as they fell to 11-19 on the year.
Senior Taylor Lively got the start in the first game and went 5.0 innings, giving up eight runs, though just one was earned, while striking out three. She came on in relief in the second game and tossed 3.1 innings, allowing two earned runs on three hits. Chelsea Crehan finished the day 4-for-6 with a run scored and an RBI to pace the offense.
The Dutchwomen jumped out to an early lead in the opener. Following a Castleton error, Lively gave up a two-out three-run homer to Sam Chevalier. The Dutchwomen added five more runs in the second, with four of them unearned due to a pair of Spartan errors.
Tori Fearon earned the team's first hit in the bottom of the frame with a double, but she was stranded at second. Castleton threatened in the fourth but couldn't put anything on the board once again and Union starter
Alyssa Wolejko was strong in the circle the rest of the way.
Wolejko earned the win by going 5.0 innings and allowing just five hits while striking out four with a single walk. Chevalier had three RBIs and Wolejko,
Allyson Staats and
Lindsay Cohen had two hits each while Wolejko drove in two.
In the second game the Dutchwomen struck in the top of the second.
Dani Hennel hit an RBI single up the middle with two outs to score Allison Staats. However, starter Emily Sweeney got a force out at second to end the threat.
Union added to its lead in the fourth, scoring four times. Sweeney gave up an RBI single and sacrifice fly before
Aimee Palleschi jacked a two-run homer for the 5-0 advantage. Lively came on in relief and induced a groundout to end the frame.
Castleton finally got on the board in the bottom of the fifth. Caylee Fleury led off with a walk. Chelsea Crehan singled to the pitcher, and
Sarah Logan's throw to first was wide, allowing Fleury to score. Two batters later, Babcock scored Crehan on a groundout to cut the deficit to 5-2.
The score remained 5-2 until Chevalier went yard with two outs and one on to extend the Dutchwomen lead to 7-2.
In the last of the seventh, Kristy Pinkham led off with a bunt single. Fleury followed with a bunt single to third and the throw was poor, allowing Pinkham to advance to third. Crehan followed with a double to left field, scoring Pinkham. However, the comeback attempt came up short as each of the next three batters were unable to reach base.
Logan went 4.0 innings for the win, striking out three and not allowing an earned run wile Staats tossed the final 3.0 innings and struck out four.
Joanna Chalifoux had two hits in the second contest, as did
Lindsay Cohen and Wolejko.
Union returns home Thursday to host Sage Colleges at 3:30 p.m.
