From Case Western Reserve University Athletics
Case Western Reserve University picked up a thrilling 8-7 win in 10 innings over Washington (Mo.) University on a go-ahead two run home run by junior Grace Tritchler in the late game of a doubleheader at the WU Sofball Field on Saturday afternoon, after dropping a 4-3 decision to the Bears in the early game.
With the split of the doubleheader, the Spartans moved to 16-11 overall and 7-6 in the UAA, while Washington now stands at 16-11 and 4-4 in the conference.
Game 1: Washington 4, CWRU 3
The Spartans fell behind early in the first game of the day, and despite the late comeback to tie the score, Case Western Reserve dropped a 4-3 decision to WashU.
A solo home run from Hera Tang in the bottom of the second gave the Bears the early lead in the game, but the Spartans evened the score at 1-1 when junior Katie Wede scored on a wild pitch in the top of the third inning.
WashU responded in the following inning with an RBI single and then added to their lead in the fourth with another run to lead 3-1.
CWRU then rallied in the top of the seventh when freshman Melissa Cuellar hit a sacrifice fly to right to score senior Annie Wennerberg. Freshman Callie Wang then delivered another sacrifice fly to left to score freshman Caitlin Smith to even the score at 3-3.
The Bears answered in the bottom half of the inning with a game-winning RBI single from Anna McKee to secure the walk-off 4-3 win.
Freshman Emily Nishiwaki led the Spartans at the plate with a two-for-three performance, while Wennerberg went a one-for-three, including a double and one run scored.
Wennerberg started and took the loss, falling to 9-5 on the year. She pitched six innings and allowed three earned runs on seven hits, while striking out three. McKee picked up the win for WashU in game one, improving to 10-3 on the season.
Game 2: CWRU 8, WashU 7 (10 inn.)
Tritchler hit the go-ahead two run homer in the top of the tenth and held off a late comeback by WashU to give the Spartans an 8-7 win in extra innings.
The Spartans were first to get on the board with an RBI double from sophomore Nicole Doyle and then a sacrifice fly from junior Maren Waldner to put CWRU up 2-0 in the first inning.
The Bears got on the board in the third when they scored four runs to take a 4-2 lead. The Spartans answered back immediately in the following inning when Smith scored on a fielding error, followed by another double from Doyle that drove in two runs to help regain the lead for the Spartans at 5-4.
WashU responded back with two runs of their own in the bottom of the fourth to take back the lead at 6-5. The Spartans were held scoreless for the next innings until the top of the seventh when Doyle hit a solo home run to tie the game at 6-6.
Neither team could get anything going in the first couple of extra innings, until Tritchler stepped to the plate and delivered what would become the game-winning two run homer in the top of the tenth. WashU attempted a rally in the bottom half of the inning, but fell short as the Spartans held on for the 8-7 extra-inning victory.
Wennerberg pitched in relief and earned the win, improving to 10-5 overall. She pitched in 6.2 innings of relief, allowing one earned run on five hits, while striking out five batters.