From Case Western Reserve University Athletics
Case Western Reserve University junior Annie Wennerberg hit a three run home run in the bottom of the sixth inning of the first game against the College of Wooster to become the program's all-time home run leader, and help the Spartans to a doubleheader sweep of the Fighting Scots, with a 10-2 win in six innings in the first game and a 4-2 triumph in the second contest.
Wennerberg's home run was her fourth of the season and the 29th of her career, as she passed former Spartan Lauren Wolz (2009-12) for the most home runs in the program's history. The 2015 University Athletic Association Most Valuable Player and All-America First Team selection also drove in four runs during the day to move past former Spartan Ashley Parello (2012-15) for the sixth-most RBIs over a career in the team's history.
The sweep raised the Spartans' record to 14-16 for the season, as the team has won each of its last four games and seven of its last 10. Case Western Reserve also improved to 4-0 in home games this season, and ran its home winning streak to 12 contests, dating back to the 2015 campaign.
Wooster dropped to 9-11 on the season with the two losses.
Game 1: CWRU 10, Wooster 2 (6 innings)
After Wooster scored the first two runs of the game, the Spartans scored 10 unanswered runs, including six in the bottom of the sixth inning to put an early end to a 10-2 victory against the Fighting Scots in the early game.
In addition to hitting the home run and driving in four runs during the game, Wennerberg earned the win on the mound to improve to 9-9 on the season. She allowed just two earned runs on five hits, while striking out seven and walking one over six innings of work.
Sophomore third baseman Maren Waldner added a three-for-four game at the plate with two doubles, three runs batted in and two runs scored. Leadoff hitter and freshman shortstop Nicole Doyle scored three runs in the game, and Meghann McMahon added a pair of hits in four at bats.
After Wooster took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first, the Spartans would take the lead with three runs in the bottom of the inning, scoring on an RBI single from Waldner, a steal of home by Wede, and a Wennerberg sacrifice fly. Case Western Reserve extended its lead to 4-2 on an RBI double from Waldner in the bottom of the fourth.
The Spartans secured the victory with six runs in the bottom of sixth. The first three runs came across on RBI hits from Doyle, Waldner and sophomore Grace Tritchler. Then, Wenneberg would clear the bases with her record-setting shot, a three run home run over the wall in right field that clinched the win for the Spartans, by virtue of the eight-run rule.
Wede went three-for-three in the game with two stolen bases, and her 18 stolen bases this season are the second-most in school history, just four behind Molly O'Brien's single-season record of 22, set during the 2013 season.
Maddy Chase took the loss for Wooster, allowing nine runs in the game and falling to 6-5 on the season.
Game 2: CWRU 4, Wooster 2
Case Western Reserve sophomore Katie Dzierwa struck out a career-high nine batters, and Wede hit her first home run of the season, as the Spartans completed the sweep of Wooster with a 4-2 win in the second game of the day.
Dzierwa allowed just a pair of unearned runs on three hits and walk during her four innings of work in the game, while striking out half of the batters she faced in the game. She improved to 2-4 on the year with the victory, and lowered her season ERA to 3.19.
Wede's home run, a solo shot, put the Spartans on the board in the bottom of the first inning. After Wooster tied the game with a run in the third, Case Western Reserve regained the lead with a pair of runs in the bottom of the third, when Doyle scored on an error, and Wede came across the plate after Waldner was caught stealing. Wooster pulled back within a run, 3-2, on an error in the fourth, but CWRU plated a key insurance run in the fourth on a sacrifice fly by Doyle.
Wennerberg pitched the final three innings of the game holding Wooster scoreless on a hit and striking out two, en route to earning her first save of the year.
Wede finished the game two-for-three with two runs and an RBI, including the home run.
Jenna Kendall took the loss in the complete-game effort, dropping to 3-6 for the season.