Both squads offered the Big Green a chance to face game-like conditions during the four-week break between the Ivy League Championship Series that was held May 8-9 and the NCAA Regionals that will be held June 4-7.
"Whenever you can find a competitive game, there's really no replacement," pitcher Kyle Hendricks '12 said. "Hitters get to face live pitching, pitchers get more competition facing live batters."
Castleton State won the North Eastern Athletic Conference tournament and will play in the NCAA Division III tournament beginning May 19. BC hosts Georgia Tech this weekend before beginning the ACC tournament on May 26.
"Anytime we can play a team in a good conference, it helps us see where we stand," catcher Chris O'Dowd '13 said.
Darmouth began last weekend with a resounding 14-4 victory over the Spartans. The team came out for a season-high 20 hits, including four apiece from Joe Sclafani '12 and Jason Brooks '11. Ben Murray '10 surrendered one earned run in five innings of work to improve to 4-5 on the season.
The Big Green scored in all but one inning and put together four multi-run innings.
Zack Bellenger '13 got things started in the first-inning, hitting a bases-loaded single up the middle, to bring in two of his four RBIs, a game-high for him. Castleton State answered right back in the top of the second, as David Brandt hit a two-out single down the left-field line to tie the game at 2-2.
In the bottom of the second, Brandon Parks '11 led off with a single and, after Brett Gardner '10 struck out, Sclafani drove him home with a triple to deep left-center field. Sam Bean '11 grounded out to score Sclafani, and after O'Dowd and Brooks reached on singles, Bellenger collected his third RBI with another single up the middle to make it 5-2, Dartmouth.
The Big Green took a 7-3 lead into the fifth and used a four-run bottom of the inning to put the Spartans away for good.
Sunday's game against the Eagles was a different story, as BC senior right fielder John Spatola clubbed two home runs and drove in six runs to lead the Eagles to a 10-4 victory.
Starters Hendricks, Kyle Hunter '13 and captain Robert Young '10 who will likely form the rotation at Regionals split the first six innings, each pitching two. Young took the brunt of the punishment, allowing seven runs, all earned, in the opening two innings.
After a three-run first by the Eagles, the Eagles tacked on four more in the second, giving BC a 7-1 lead.
Despite solid outings from Hendricks, Hunter and Cole Sulser '12, the Big Green was unable to overcome the early deficit. O'Dowd also hit his sixth home run of the season, tying for the team lead with Brooks.
Hendricks, who went two scoreless innings, spoke to the fact that manager Bob Whalen had to be careful managing his rotation's innings as Regionals approach.
"He's trying to keep us fresh and not get our pitch counts up to 80-100 pitches," Hendricks said.
Several Dartmouth players were recognized on Monday with All-Ivy honors, and O'Dowd was named Ivy Co-Rookie of the Year alongside Columbia University outfielder Dario Pizzano.
"I'm honored to be chosen, but I'm happy for the other guys that were [named All-Ivy] too," O'Dowd said. "I try to have all my goals focused on team-oriented things. Winning an Ivy League championship surpasses that achievement."
O'Dowd is the second consecutive member of the Big Green to win Rookie of the Year following Sclafani's win last year. Brooks, Sclafani, Jake Carlson '12 and Sulser were all named second team All-Ivy, while O'Dowd and Hendricks received honorable mentions. It was Sclafani's second selection, having been named to the first team last season. Hendricks was named to the second team last year.
Whalen was pleased with his players' ability to step up and fill the holes vacated by last year's seniors.
"We had to replace so many position players," Whalen said. "It took a lot longer [this season] to find a flow and consistent production."
Whalen said he is trying to schedule an additional game this week. If no competition is available, the team will hold intrasquad scrimmages this weekend prior to Regionals.
