CASTLETON, Vt. – The Husson softball team dropped the opening game of the North Atlantic Conference Championship Tournament on Friday morning to Castleton by a final score of 2-1.

Castleton moves to 18-11 with the win, while Husson falls to 14-24 on the season.

Ruby Bushey and Tori Swaine provided Kayla Wood with all the offense she would need, as Swaine and Bushey each tallied RBI doubles in the win. Wood tossed her eighth win of the season, striking out 10 batters over seven innings of one-run ball.

Allison Hill and Casey Heath tallied the only hits of the game for Husson, with Hill driving in the Eagles' only run. Allannah Healy suffered her 15th loss of the season, going the distance and allowing two runs, both earned, on seven hits and one walk while striking out four batters.

Castleton got on the board first, when Swaine ripped a one-out double over the center fielder's head. Following a groundout, Bushey knocked a double of her own to center field, scoring Swaine and making it 1-0 Castleton after two innings of play.

Husson pulled even in the fifth inning, when a pair of two-out walks gave the Eagles runners at first and second. A bunt single by Hill ended Wood's no-hit bid after 4.2 innings and found its way into a vacated area to make it a 1-1 game.

The game remained tied going to the bottom of the sixth, but Swaine ripped a double to the fence in right center to score Grady from first base and give Castleton a lead they would not relinquish.

Wood struck out the first two batters of the seventh looking, but a base hit and a hit-by-pitch gave Husson the tying run on second base with two outs. Wood buckled down, striking out the last batter of the game to seal the victory. 

The Spartans advance to the winner's bracket game and face second seeded Thomas, which will take place at 4 p.m. this afternoon, while Husson will now play New England College at 2 p.m. in the loser's bracket.