From Case Western Reserve University Athletics
The Case Western Reserve University softball team split a road doubleheader with #25 Washington University in St. Louis on Saturday at the WU Softball Field in St. Louis, Missouri, winning the first contest 7-2 but falling 2-0 in the second game.
The Spartans are 12-8 on the season and 4-2 in University Athletic Association play, while the Bears are 18-5 and 6-1 in conference contests. CWRU is second in the UAA standings, trailing WashU by 1.5 games.
Case Western Reserve pitched well in the two games, with first-year pitchers Kylie Hosey and Lexi Miskey each allowing only one earned run and combining for nine strikeouts. Sophomore outfielder Stevie Rieger and sophomore catcher Jordon Manworren each had three hits in the two games.
Game 1: CWRU 7, #25 WashU 2
The Spartans took advantage of two WashU errors in the third inning to score the first three runs of the contest. Sophomore outfielder Kela Jagoda and sophomore shortstop KaiLi Gross both reached base on throwing errors to lead off the inning. After Gross stole second to put two runners in scoring position, Rieger sent a double through the left side to plate Jagoda. Gross and Rieger both scored on a single from Manworren down the left field line to give the Spartans a 3-0 lead.
Miskey allowed just two baserunners in the first four innings. WashU cut into the deficit with a solo home run in the fifth inning, but the Spartans broke the game open with a four-run seventh inning. Rieger started the scoring with a bunt single, as junior outfielder Carli Tucci crossed the plate for the fourth CWRU run. Junior second baseman Amanda Riely followed with a sacrifice bunt that plated Gross and allowed Rieger to advance to third. A double from Manworren sent Rieger home, while the catcher scored on a single from senior first baseman Liv Thomas.
Manworren was perfect at the plate, finishing the game three-for-three with three runs batted in, a walk, and a stolen base. It was the second three-hit game and two-double game of her career, and her three runs batted in are a new career best. Rieger and Thomas each collected two hits and a stolen base.
Miskey (5-3) earned the win with her fifth consecutive complete game. She allowed one earned run on four hits while adding six strikeouts and just one walk. Miskey lowered her earned run average to 1.44, the lowest mark in the conference.
Game 2: #25 WashU 2, CWRU 0
Madison Denton outdueled Hosey in a game that was scoreless through five innings. The two teams combined for just six baserunners in the first five frames. WashU finally broke the deadlock in the sixth inning, scoring two unearned runs with two outs. Case Western Reserve could not rally in its last at bat, dropping the second game of the doubleheader.