Castleton, Vt.--Sophomore outfielder Sophia Crudale (Cranston, R.I.) went 3-for-5 with two walks and an RBI over two games as Rhode Island College lost both games of a Little East doubleheader to VTSU Castleton (2-1, 4-3) at Spartan Field on Saturday afternoon.
 
THE BASICS
VTSU Castleton 2, 4; Rhode Island College 1, 3
VTSU Castleton (18-16, 7-9 LEC)
Rhode Island College (28-10, 10-6 LEC)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
GAME ONE
• The two sides engaged in a pitcher's duel for the first three innings. The Anchorwomen would break the ice with an RBI double by senior third baseman Victoria Young (Sterling, Conn.) in the fourth.
 
• After the Spartans tied it in the sixth, an RBI single with the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh allowed Castleton to walk-off RIC and take the opener.
 
• Junior pitcher Abby Kidd (Granby, Conn.) threw 6.1 innings and struck out seven in the loss (16-3).
 
• Crudale went 1-for-2 with a run scored and two walks in the setback.
 
GAME TWO
• Crudale would knock in the first run of the game in the second with an RBI single. The Anchorwomen would score another run via a passed ball.
 
• Freshman designated player Melanie Earley (Lumberton, N.J.) would draw a walk, allowing another RIC run to cross the plate in the fifth to build a 3-1 lead.
 
• The Spartans scored three unanswered runs, including a two-run single in the sixth inning, to snatch a 4-3 lead and stun the Anchorwomen.
 
• Freshman starter Ashleigh von der Linden (Stratham, N.H.) hurled five innings. Kidd came on in relief and took the loss (16-4).
 
WHAT'S NEXT
In upcoming action, No. 4-seeded Rhode Island College will face No. 5-seeded Southern Maine in game one of the 2024 Little East Softball Championship, hosted by UMass Boston on Wednesday, May 8 (10 a.m.).