Box Score

MARIETTA, Ohio — Jake Shields gave Case Western Reserve exactly what it needed.

Shields was still a bit in shock of how well he did pitch Saturday night.

The freshman was practically unhittable as the Spartans defeated La Roche 8-0 late Saturday night to remain alive in the 2014 NCAA Division III Mideast Regional at Marietta College's Don Schaly Stadium.

"I was just focusing on the little things in my mechanics. I wasn't thinking about the next inning, and just about the next pitch and the next pitch and the next pitch," Shields said. "So I think these little things really helped me to zone in on every batter and be successful."

Shields had his best performance of 2014 by far, as he struck out nine and allowed just four hits in the complete-game win. He also walked just three batters.

"Jake was obviously fantastic tonight. He has shown that several times this year. La Roche is a very good team and we didn't expect anybody to come out here and shut them out," said CWRU coach Matt Englander. "From pitch No. 1 he was on his game. He was down and disciplined."

Shields (6-2) was so dominant that he retired 15 straight batters until Colin Williamson singled in the seventh inning.

"I knew I had to go out there and give it the best I could. I didn't expect to go nine. The furthest I've gone is seven (against Wooster on April 9)," Shields said. "I didn't think I'd go out there and be as dominant as I was."

Shields admitted he had extra motivation.

"I didn't want to send our seniors home tonight," he said. "I told them that before the game, 'You're not going home tonight,' and that was definitely a motivating force."

After scoring a run in the second, CWRU built on its lead with two more in the fifth off of La Roche's Walt Hadjuk. Andrew Frey doubled home Aaron Cain for one run and Andrew Gronski's sacrifice fly plated Will Meador.

The Spartans also added a run in the sixth and two more in the seventh and ninth innings.

Noah Sherman finished 4-for-5 with two RBI, while Frey was 3-for-5 with two doubles and one RBI. Antonio Damiano, Jordan Dague and Cain each added two hits as CWRU finished with 17 hits off two La Roche pitchers — Hadjuk and Jesse Bauer.

"You come into the day thinking you are going to win the first game and only play one and then it comes as a shock that you have to play two," Englander said. "I give them credit for being ready to play."

La Roche (31-15) had singles from Sean Lubin, Andrew Zeger, Colin Williamson and Matt Sabatini.