From Case Western Reserve University Athletics
The Case Western Reserve University softball team split a doubleheader at home against New York University at Mather Park on Saturday afternoon, falling 5-1 in the first game, before bouncing back for a 4-3 win in the second contest.
The Spartans now stand at 12-9 overall and 3-4 in the UAA, while NYU moved to 11-7 on the season and 1-1 in the conference.
Case Western Reserve junior Grace Tritchler led the Spartans during the day, hitting her team-leading fifth home run of the season during the second game, and finishing the two games a combined two-for-six with two runs batted in and two runs scored.
Game 1: NYU 5, CWRU 1
The Violets took a lead in the top of the first on a sacrifice fly from Dakota Damiani. NYU would add to their lead in the top of second by scoring three runs to extend their lead to 4-0. The Spartans answered with one run in the bottom half of the inning when freshman Melissa Cuellar hit a sacrifice fly to right field, scoring Tritchler from third base.
NYU scored one more run in the fourth to secure the 5-1 victory.
Junior Katie Wede, junior Maren Waldner, Tricthler and freshman Emily Nishiwaki each tallied a hit in the game.
On the mound, senior Annie Wennerberg allowed four earned runs on nine hits and a walk, while striking out one batter. She fell to 7-3 on the year. Karissa Zubulake earned the complete-game win for the Violets, improving to 5-2 on the season.
Game 2: CWRU 4, NYU 3
Case Western Reserve junior Katie Dzierwa allowed just three earned runs and scattered eight hits, as the Spartans overcame a late push to win 4-3 over NYU in the second game of Saturday's doubleheader.
Dzierwa struck out one and allowed zero walks during her impressive effort, earning the win to improve 4-4 on the year.
CWRU struck first in the bottom of the third when sophomore Nicole Doyle singled to left field to drive in Wede from second. Waldner followed with an RBI single that scored Doyle to give the Spartans a 2-0 lead.
The Spartans added a run in each of the next two innings, including Tritchler's home run in the fourth, to push the CWRU lead to 4-0. The Violets attempted a comeback by scoring two runs in the sixth and one in the seventh, but the Spartans were able to hang on for the 4-3 win.
Doyle and Wennerberg each had a solid two-for-three performance at the plate, while Waldner drove in two runs in the game.