From Case Western Reserve University Athletics
Case Western Reserve freshman Mike Najmowicz hit his second home run of the season, and freshman Tyler Wypiszenski drove in three runs, as the Spartans rolled to an 11-6 win over Waynesburg University at Nobby's Ballpark on Wednesday afternoon.
The win was the fourth-straight for the Spartans, who improved to 12-9 overall this season, and ended March with a 9-5 record during the month.
Sophomore designated hitter Daniel Watson finished the game two-for-four to raise his batting average to a team-high .371 for the campaign, while scoring four runs, and driving in a pair. Watson also stole three bases in the game, and leads all CWRU players with 16 stolen bases this season.
Wypiszenski added a two-for-five day at the plate with two doubles and three runs batted in, while Najmowicz and Neal each drove in a pair of runs in the game as well.
After falling behind 1-0 in the top of the first, the Spartans responded with four runs in the bottom of the inning. Freshman shortstop Rocco Maue drove in the first run of the game with a one-out single, and Watson followed with a run-scoring single of his own to give the Spartans the lead. Freshman Jacob Pestel took advantage of a Waynesburg error to score the third run of the inning, and junior left fielder Josh Neal capped off the scoring in the frame with an RBI single.
A three-run top of the third for the Yellow Jackets tied the game at 4-4, but Wypiszenski gave CWRU the lead again with an RBI double in the bottom of the inning. The Spartans saw their lead bulge to 7-4 on a two-run home run by Najmowicz in the bottom of the fifth, but a pair of runs in the top of the sixth trimmed the CWRU lead back to a run.
Case Western Reserve broke the game open for good in the bottom of the sixth with a four-run frame, scoring each of their runs in the inning with two outs. A single from Watson scored junior center fielder Aaron Cain, and Wypiszenski would follow with a two-RBI double, extending the lead to 10-6. Neal added an RBI double, scoring Wypiszenski, and increasing the lead to five runs.
Pitching on back-to-back days, senior Connor Tagg did now allow a hit or a run in his 1.2 innings of work, striking out a batter and walking a batter. Sophomore Nate Glasser closed the game out with a pair of scoreless innings, allowing just one hit to secure the Spartans' victory.
Senior Lee Penzarella picked up the win in relief for the Spartans, allowing two runs on two hits in 2.1 innings, to improve to 3-1 on the season.
Waynesburg starter Brandon Lawless took the loss, falling to 0-4 on the year. The setback dropped Waynesburg to 1-14 overall on the season.