Scots Bested by Spartans in Midweek Affair

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Sophomore left fielder Ben Carroll staked The College of Wooster baseball team to an early 2-0 lead, but the Fighting Scots could not hold it in Wednesday's 8-4 loss to Case Western Reserve University at Nobby's Ballpark.   

Wooster (13-18) placed two runners in scoring position with one out in the first, with junior shortstop Grant Mitchell singling to right field and first-year center fielder John Panstares following with a double to right. They scored when Carroll found the alley in left center for his first double of the year.

CWRU (23-12), which ran its winning streak to nine games, tied the midweek affair at two on Nick Talarico's single up the middle in the second inning. That is where the score stood until Nick Harms sent Zack Carinci sprinting around the bases on a fifth-inning triple.

CWRU led 8-2 when Panstares' RBI fielder's choice cut into the lead in the seventh inning. A muffed throw when Panstares stole second base enabled sophomore third baseman Andy Heintz to score from third and pull Wooster within 8-4.

Sophomore Thomas Gfell was inserted into a bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the sixth inning and nearly walked the tightrope, getting two Spartans to pop out before a run scored via a walk. Gfell escaped further damage when Talarico flied out to first-year right fielder Dan Hanson, then the sophomore right-hander went on to hold CWRU hitless and scoreless over its final two trips to the dish.

First-year Sammy De Maio started for Wooster and allowed two runs on three hits in two innings. Senior Dean Brown fell to 0-3 with two runs on five hits in three innings on his line.

Reece Marley, who held the Scots to three runs on eight hits in six innings, during which he struck out 11 when the teams first met at Art Murray Field on April 6 toed the rubber again for the Spartans. This time, he surrendered two runs on six hits with seven strikeouts in six innings of work and ran his record to 6-2.

First-year Colin Leslie had a fine day, going 3-for-4, while Westrick was the other Scot with multiple hits. Harms was the offensive hero for CWRU, going 2-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored.

Wooster (8-4 North Coast Athletic Conference) returns home to host Hiram College (12-18, 1-9 NCAC) in an April 29 doubleheader that starts at noon. Wooster, currently in third-place in the NCAC, clinches a spot in the conference tournament with a sweep.