#17 Bears Rally for Sweep of Castleton

NEW LONDON, CONN.--(3/17/12)--Coast Guard, ranked 17th nationally, rallied for four runs in the bottom of the seventh, winning the game on an error, to erase a 4-1 deficit in the opener to spoil Castleton's upset bid with a 5-4 win before beating the Spartans 17-0 in five innings in game two of a non-conference doubleheader.

Castleton was one-out away from a huge upset leading 4-3 with the bases loaded when freshman Stephanie Figgins hit a fly ball to right field that was dropped allowing two runs to score.

The Spartans erupted for four runs in the fourth with senior Shannon Jipner blasted a deep three-run homer to left for a 4-1 lead. The Bears had scored an unearned run in the top of the first.

In the home half of the seventh, senior Jamie Kim led off with a single. Senior Maddie Buchert and freshman Jesse Richardson had back-to-back RBI doubles with one out to cut the deficit to 4-3. Freshman Chloe Harmon walked and sophomore Devin Fellman was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Senior Stacia Sarwinski struck out before Figgins' fly ball was dropped giving the Bears the walkoff win.

Senior Hayley Feindel (7-4) allowed four runs and four hits while walking three and striking out six to pickup the win.

Junior Taylor Lively (0-6) was the tough luck loser as she allowed just five hits and five runs, just two earned while walking five and striking out seven.

In game two, Sarwinski and sophomore Kaitlin Ward each hit three-run homers as the Bears had 17 hits in the 17-0 win.

Sarwinski's homer highlighted an eight run second inning while Ward's three-run shot was part of a five run third as the Bears led 15-0 after three innings.

Junior Catherine Walker, making her first appearance of the year on the mound, fired a her first career shutout, a three-hitter with four walks and four strikeouts.

Buchert and Ward were both 3 for 3 while Harmon added two hits and two RBI's in the win for Coast Guard, which improved to 8-4 on the season.

Castleton drops to 0-8 on the year.