From Case Western Reserve University Athletics
Case Western Reserve University picked up a thrilling 4-3 win in nine innings over John Carroll University on a walk off single by freshman Nicole Doyle in the early game of a doubleheader at Mather Park on Thursday afternoon, before dropping a 4-3 decision to the Blue Streaks in the late game.
With the split of the doubleheader, the Spartans fell to 15-17 overall, while John Carroll now stands at 13-11.
Freshman Alex Favazza, sophomore Maren Waldner and Doyle each tallied four hits during the two games combined for the Spartans.
Game 1: CWRU 4, John Carroll 3 (9 innings)
Case Western Reserve freshman shortstop Nicole Doyle drove in senior Kristen Klemmer with an RBI single with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning to give the Spartans a 4-3 walk off win in extra innings over John Carroll in the first game of the day on Thursday.
The two teams were locked in a pitchers' duel for the first five and a half innings between John Carroll starter AnnMarie Kirchner and CWRU starter Annie Wennerberg. The Spartans finally broke the tie in the bottom of the sixth, loading the bases and scoring the first run when Klemmer crossed the plate on an RBI single from sophomore Maren Waldner. However, the Blue Streaks answered back, tying the game in the top of the seventh on a single by Kirchner and taking a 3-1 lead on a two-run home run on Hannah Mizener.
The Spartans had an answer of their own in the bottom of the seventh, when freshman designated player Alex Favazza singled to score Wennerberg with one out in the frame. Senior Abbey Filliezwould pinch run for Favazza, and eventually score the game tying run on an error by the John Carroll shortstop with two outs, sending the game into extra innings with the score tied at 3-3.
The Blue Streaks would threaten to take the lead against the Spartans in the top of the eighth, loading the bases with no outs with three-straight hits against Wennerberg. Sophomore Katie Dzierwaentered the game for CWRU, and would proceed to get the next three outs without a run scoring, keeping the score tied at 3-3.
The game remained tied until the bottom of the ninth, when Klemmer singled with one out and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. With two outs, Doyle singled to right field to score Klemmer, and give the Spartans the walk off victory.
Waldner and Favazza each had three of the Spartans' 13 hits in the game, while Klemmer added a two-for-five performance with a pair of runs scored.
Dzierwa picked up the win in the game, pitching a pair of perfect innings and striking out three, improving to 3-4 on the year. Jessica Cook took the loss in relief for John Carroll, falling to 2-5 on the year.
Game 2: John Carroll 4, CWRU 3
The Spartans fell behind early in the second game of the day, and despite a few late attempts to rally to tie the score, Case Western Reserve dropped a 4-3 decision to John Carroll.
A two-RBI single from Carly Simecek in the top of the first gave John Carroll the early lead in the game, but the Spartans cut the lead back to a run on an RBI single to right field by sophomore Grace Tritchler. John Carroll regained a two run lead in the top of the second after Mizener scored on a wild pitch, but Case Western Reserve answered again in the bottom of the third, when Tritchler plated her second run of the game, driving in sophomore Katie Wede with an RBI double.
A sacrifice fly added a run to John Carroll's lead in the fifth, putting the Blue Streaks up 4-2. The Spartans narrowed the gap in the bottom of the sixth, after a double from Wennerberg put runners on the corners with nobody out, and a one out sacrifice fly by Favazza cut the lead to 4-3. However, the Spartans would be unable to get the tying run across, ultimately falling to John Carroll.
Dzierzwa started and took the loss, falling to 3-5 on the year. Senior Rebecca Molnar turned in a solid relief outing, pitching the final six innings and holding the Blue Streaks to a pair of runs on three hits and striking out three.
Cook picked up the win for John Carroll in game two, improving to 3-5, while Brianna Lach earned the save, her first of the season.