From Case Western Reserve University Athletics
Case Western Reserve rallied for six runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to pick up a 6-3 win over Baldwin Wallace University in its home-opening game of the season on Tuesday at Nobby's Ballpark.
The win was the third-straight for the Spartans, who improved to 11-9 overall on the year, while the Yellow Jackets dropped to 7-10 overall with the setback.
After a scoreless first inning for both teams, Baldwin Wallace took the lead in the top of the second when Trent Kaltenbach tripled to start the frame, and scored on an error a batter later. The Yellow Jackets extended their lead to 2-0 in the top of the fifth on an RBI single from Mark Zimmerman. Baldwin Wallace would load the bases with one out in the inning, but CWRU starter Jake Shields induced an inning ending double play to limit the damage in the frame.
The Spartans would answer in the bottom of the inning, scoring six unearned runs and sending 11 batters to the plate in the fifth. Freshman first baseman Mike Najmowicz started the inning with a double, advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt, and scored on a passed ball, cutting the lead to 2-1. Then, an error, a single and a walk with two outs loaded the bases for junior right fielder Tony Damiano, who singled into left field, scoring freshman third baseman Jacob Kucia and junior center fielder Aaron Cain, giving the Spartans their first lead of the game, 3-2. Freshman designated hitter Tyler Wypiszenski added an RBI on a bases-loaded walk, and two more runs came across a batter later on a second error in the inning by the Yellow Jackets, extending the CWRU advantage to 6-2.
Sophomore Liam Killingstad added a pair of scoreless innings in relief, and despite allowing a solo home run to Cole Nieto in the eighth, senior Connor Tagg pitch the final two innings to hold on for the win.
Shields, who allowed a pair of runs on six hits and two walks with five strikeouts, picked up his second victory in as many games for the Spartans, improving to 4-2 on the year. Baldwin Wallace starter Connor Murphy took the loss, falling to 0-3 for the campaign.
Seven different Spartan players each collected a hit in the game, while six different players scored a run each. Damiano finished the game one-for-four with the two RBIs, and leads all CWRU players with 15 runs batted in this season.