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Scott Kutschke Wins Both Games of Doubleheader as Spartans Sweep NYU on Saturday

Scott Kutschke Wins Both Games of Doubleheader as Spartans Sweep NYU on Saturday

From Case Western Reserve University Athletics

Case Western Reserve University sophomore reliever Scott Kutschke picked up wins in both games of a doubleheader on Saturday afternoon, helping the 11th-ranked Spartans defeat New York University 7-5 in the early contest and 4-3 in 10 innings in the late game at Nobby's Ballpark in Cleveland, Ohio.

The two wins helped the Spartans clinch a series win over the Violets, as CWRU improved to 23-4 overall and remained in first place in the University Athletic Association with a 10-2 conference record. NYU dropped to 21-7 on the year with a 2-6 UAA ledger.

Kutschke pitched and claimed victories in both games of the doubleheader, improving to 4-0 on the season. Over the two contests, he held NYU scoreless over six innings and yielded just four hits and two walks, while striking out five. He totaled eight shutout innings over the final three games of the series.

Game 1 – CWRU 7, NYU 5
The Spartans overcame a 5-1 deficit after four and a half innings with six unanswered runs over the final five frames to defeat the Violets 7-5 in the first game of Saturday's doubleheader.

NYU scored three in the second inning of the game off CWRU senior starter Ben Murphy to take the early lead in the game. The Spartans cut the lead to 3-1 when an RBI single from senior designated hitter Alex Capetillo scored sophomore centerfielder Samuel Neal. However, the Violets added single runs in the fourth and fifth innings to take a 5-1 lead over CWRU heading into the bottom of the fifth.

The Spartans pulled back within three runs in the bottom of the fifth on a sacrifice fly by senior outfielder Nate Glasser that scored Capetillo. CWRU would even the score with a three-run bottom of the sixth, as junior third baseman Jacob Kucia and Neal scored on an NYU error, and Capetillo drove in the game-tying run with an RBI double. The Spartans took the lead on a Kucia RBI single in the seventh and added an insurance run on a sacrifice fly from junior outfielder Jacob Pestel in the eighth, going ahead 7-5.

Kutschke entered the game in the sixth inning, and pitched a pair of scoreless innings. Senior Liam Killingstad closed out the game with a pair of perfect frames and three strikeouts for his eighth save of the season.

Capetillo went three-for-four five in the contest with a double, a run scored, two RBIs and a stolen base. Kucia added a three-for-four game with a run, an RBI a double and a stolen base. Junior second baseman Rocco Maue and junior catcher Tyler Wypiszenskieach added two hits in the early contest on Saturday as well.

NYU's Gabriel Golob took the loss in relief, falling to 0-1 on the year.

Game 2 – CWRU 4, NYU 3 (10 innings)
In a back-and-forth contest on a rainy afternoon, the Spartans took advantage of a throwing error in the bottom of the 10th inning to score the game-winning run in a 4-3 win over the Violets.

The Spartans jumped out to an early lead, scoring a run in the bottom of the second without collected a hit. Glasser reached on a walk to start the inning, stole second, moved up to third on a groundout, and scored on an RBI groundout by Kucia. The team added a run in the fourth, when Wypiszenski scored on a sacrifice fly by sophomore first baseman Noah Mehrle.

NYU would get an unearned run back off starter Matt Levine in the sixth inning, who left the contest after five and a third innings, having allowed six hits and a walk, while striking out one. Killingstad made his second appearance of the day, collecting the final two outs of the sixth, but ran into trouble as the rain began to fall in the seventh, allowing a pair of runs to score, as NYU gained a 3-2 advantage. Kutschke would enter the contest, and go the rest of the way, allowing just one hit and two walks, while striking out a pair over four shutout innings of work.

The Spartans tied the game with a two-out rally in the bottom of the eighth. Wypiszenski was hit by a pitch, and moved up a base on a wild pitch. He would score a batter later, as Glasser drove him in with an RBI single to centerfield.

Kutschke worked out of trouble in both the ninth and 10th innings, as the game remained tied 3-3 heading into the bottom of the 10th. Wypiszenski led the inning off with a five pitch walk, bringing Glasser to the plate with nobody out. The senior laid a perfect bunt down the third baseline for a hit, and an errant throw by the NYU third baseman allowed Wypiszenski to score the game-winning run from first base.

Wypiszenski went one-for-three in the game with a walk, and scored three of the team's four runs in the game. Glasser was two-for-two with a run, an RBI and three walks in the game.

NYU's Zach Cohen suffered the loss in the game, dropping to 0-1 on the year.

The Spartans will return to action on Wednesday with the team's annual game at Progressive Field, home of the Cleveland Indians, against Washington and Jefferson College at 2:00 p.m. The team will also celebrate 'Senior Day' on Wednesday, and will honor its six graduating players – Danny Souza, Nate Glasser, Alex Capetillo, Ben Murphy, Dan Watson and Liam Killingstad – with a special ceremony prior to the game.