After a doubleheader at Otterbein on Saturday, the Blue Streaks baseball team made a much shorter trip down the road to take on the Case Western Reserve University Spartans on Sunday.
A four-run fifth inning sunk John Carroll, as the Spartans took an 8-5 victory at Nobby's Ballpark. JCU (13-15) drops to 1-2 against CWRU (22-12) on the season.
Case scored in the second on a Tony Damiano sacrifice fly. CWRU retired the first six Blue Streaks to start the game, before starting pitcher
Nathaniel Wenson moved to designated hitter in the top of the third. Wenson singled to left for the first JCU hit.
The Spartans took a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the frame on a Josh Neal groundout and Daniel Watson triple to right center. The Blue Streaks closed the gap in an odd fourth inning.
Max Argento and
Rob Cifelli each drew a bases-loaded walk.
Two wild pitches in the fifth inning allowed Case to jump to a 5-2 advantage. Eric Eldred singled and a fielder's choice brought home the fourth run.
Monroe Donnelly had the biggest hit of the game for JCU when he scored
Tyler Gentile and
Patrick Keohane on a triple to center field.
In the ninth,
David Crowley attempted to start a rally with an RBI single. However, a double play ended the game.
Drake Hlavin (0-1) took the loss after one inning of relief.
Christopher Hanley,
Jeffrey Biddle,
Carter Semancik and Billy RItter allowed seven runs in seven innings of relief. Eddie Abramson (1-0) earned the win for Case.
Crowley's hitting streak now stands at 15 games after going 1-for-5 in the contest. He is also driven in a run in eight consecutive games. Gentile was 2-4, with two runs. Keohane was 1-3, scoring and walking twice.
