The Vermont State University woman’s softball team started their season off in Myrtle beach. Playing 7 teams and 8 games they finished the Fastpitch Dreams Spring Classic with a record of 5 wins and 3 losses.
The Vermont State University Castleton softball team had an eventful series of games at the Fastpitch Dreams Spring Classic in North Myrtle Beach, S.C. The Spartans earned their first win of the season with a dominant 7-0 victory over Gwynedd Mercy University, thanks to a stellar performance from Alex Brouillette, who threw a shutout with seven strikeouts.
However, Castleton suffered a tough 7-0 loss to Mississippi University for Women in their second game of the day, with Madison Gould taking the loss on the mound.
On Friday, March 14, the Spartans rebounded with a 6-0 win over Rochester Christian University, as Trista DeLong pitched a complete-game shutout, while the team’s offense capitalized on timely hits. Unfortunately, Castleton then fell 7-0 to Lycoming College, with the Warriors’ strong offensive showing in the third inning securing the victory.
The team had a mixed day of results on Saturday, March 15, at the Fastpitch Dreams Spring Classic in North Myrtle Beach, S.C. The Spartans defeated the University of Minnesota Morris 6-1 in their first game, with Madison Gould earning a career-high 10 strikeouts and contributing a 6-for-8 performance at the plate.
The Spartans’ offense came alive in the seventh inning, scoring five runs, while Gould pitched a complete game.
However, in the second game, Castleton suffered a narrow 3-2 loss to the University of Maine-Farmington. Despite an early 2-0 lead, the Beavers rallied late, scoring two runs in the seventh inning to secure the comeback victory.
The Vermont State University Castleton softball team ended their run at the Fastpitch Dreams Spring Classic with two dominant victories, defeating the University of Maine-Farmington 11-0 and St. Joseph’s University Long Island 9-1.
Madison Gould threw a perfect game with 10 strikeouts in the first win, while Taylor Russell hit an inside-the-park home run, and Gould followed up with a 3-for-3 performance in the second game to help secure the sweep. Jordan Hill, a junior commented on the trip stating,” Myrtle was full of good energy and such fun memories that will last a lifetime for our team. It was amazing to see the whole team come together and dominate the start of our season.”
Upon returning from South Carolina, the team played their first game in New England against Skidmore College. The season will feature doubleheaders with every opponent they face.
The Vermont State University Castleton softball team swept Skidmore College on Saturday, earning a dominant 11-0 victory in game one and a 10-5 win in game two. In the first game, Madison Gould threw a complete game shutout, allowing just three hits and striking out seven.
The Spartans capitalized on several key hits, including an RBI double by Taylor Russell and a triple by Mikayla Walsh, to take an 11-0 lead by the sixth inning, securing the win in just six innings. In the second game, Skidmore initially took a 3-0 lead, but Castleton rallied in the third and fourth innings.
Jess Heinrichs hit her first career home run, and the Spartans added five runs in the fourth to take a 7-3 lead. Jess Heinrichs reflected on her run, “having my first homerun was an amazing moment for me. I have been struggling with my hitting but still working on it every day so feeling it come off the bat and seeing it go over the fence made me realize my hard work is paying off.”
A late RBI from Francie McMahon and a solid relief appearance by Dana Elkins, who earned her first career save, helped Castleton seal the 10-5 victory, completing the sweep.
When recapping the games, junior Alexis Rogers expressed her excitement about the team’s strong performance, noting how “it felt great to see everyone contributing and playing well together”. She highlighted the collective effort, saying it was a complete team win, with each player stepping up when needed.