From Case Western Reserve University Athletics
Backed by a seventh-inning home run from junior Annie Wennerberg, the Spartans secured their first win of the 2016 season after outscoring Meredith College 5-1 in the second game of a doubleheader on Sunday afternoon in Raleigh, North Carolina. The win came after a narrow 3-2 loss to the Avenging Angels in the first game of the doubleheader on Sunday.
With the split, the Spartans stand at 1-3 on the season, while the Avenging Angels are 3-3 overall.
Wennerberg's home run was the 26th of her career, moving her just two shy of the program record career home runs, currently held by Lauren Wolz (2009-12).
CWRU was first on the scoreboard in the second game of the day, taking a 1-0 lead before the team registered its first out on sophomore second baseman Lindsey Robinson's single that plated sophomore centerfielder Katie Wede. After four scoreless innings, CWRU added a run to its lead in the sixth as freshman shortstop Nicole Doylesingled to to left centerfield with one out, driving in freshman Sharilyn Sakamoto. The Avenging Angels scored a run of their own in the bottom of the inningto pull within 2-1, but the Spartans went on to score three runs in the seventh to secure the victory as Robinson stole home and Wennerberg followed with the home run, her first of the season.
Rebecca Molnar earned the win in the game, pitching five shutout innings and allowing just two hits and a walk. Robinson went three-for-four in the game, and Grace Tritchler added a pair of hits in four at bats.
Earlier in the day, the Spartans dropped the first game 3-2. Meredith went up 1-0 after the first and extended their lead to 3-0 after scoring two in the bottom of the fifth inning. CWRU cut into the lead in the top of the sixth when Maren Waldner scored on an error with one out.
Lauren Marbrey took the loss for Meredith, dropping to 1-2 on the season.
In the seventh, CWRU threatened again, after Alex Favazza led the inning off with a double, bringing the tying run to the plate. Abbey Filliez would pinch run at second and score on a base hit by Meghann McMahon. However, McMahon was erased from the basepaths on a rundown, and despite a one-out single from Robinson that put the tying run on the basepaths, the Spartans were unable to plate the equalizer.
Wennerberg started and took the loss in the game, allowing three runs on seven hits and striking out five in six innings of work. Waldner and Favazza each tallied two of the Spartans seven hits in game.
Taylor Jackson picked up the win for Meredith in the day's opener, pitching a complete game and improving to 2-1 on the year.