The Observer, April 8, 2005
Volume XXXVII, Issue 24
Amid losses, center fielder Briggs pitches Spartans victory
The Spartans battled Lake Erie College last Thursday in an offensive explosion. The teams combined for 32 runs and 34 hits as the Spartans fell 20-12. Freshman Chad Skidmore started out the game on the mound for Case and lasted 5 1/3 innings. Skidmore gave up nine earned runs on 11 hits during his stint on the mound. Sophomore Dave Adams ended up taking the loss for Case in his two innings of work. Junior Greg Archer finished the game for the Spartans with two-thirds of an inning.
The Spartans scored first with three runs in the first inning. Junior Tim Koenig led off the inning with a walk, and junior Max Briggs followed with a two-run homer. The Spartans added an unearned run when Marshall Hampton reached on an error and was driven in by a Josh Knipp groundout.
The lead evaporated quickly, though, as Lake Erie exploded for five runs in the bottom of the second. The Spartans kept the game close over the next several innings and took the lead, 10-9, in the seventh inning, when Hampton was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. That was the last lead for the Spartans. Lake Erie scored four runs in the bottom half of the seventh, and then added seven more in the eighth. Case then added two meaningless runs in the ninth to make the score 20-12. For the game, four Spartans each had two RBI, including Joe McCrackin, who also homered.
The Spartans battled University of Pitt-Greensburg Friday in a double-header.
The Spartans took the first game by a score of 8-5 behind a complete game effort by Briggs. Briggs surrendered five runs in his effort and added eight strikeouts. Briggs and the Spartans had a rough start, as Greensburg scored four runs in the first inning. Case started its comeback in the third inning. Mark Jungermann began the inning with a double, and Jonathan Mururi and Koenig followed him with walks. Jungermann and Mururi then scored on a single by Hampton, giving Hampton two of his four RBI for the game. The Spartans took the lead, 6-5, in the fifth inning after a John Thuermer RBI single. Hampton doubled in the sixth inning to boost the lead to 8-5, ensuring the Spartan win.
Case dropped the second game by a final score of 9-1. The Spartans were plagued by bad defense and lack of hitting, as they committed seven errors and had just five hits during the game. Senior Ryan Sporer took the loss for Case despite only giving up three earned runs in five innings of work. Koenig added an inning of relief surrendering one run on one hit and three walks. Sophomore J.R. Doolos also gave the Spartans one shutout inning. Josh Knipp had two hits, including a double, to lead Case. The Spartans' lone run came in the first inning as Koenig singled and was able to score on a single by McCrackin.
After the doubleheader, the team's record now stands at 6-13. The Spartans have another doubleheader tomorrow at Hiram. First pitch is at 1 p.m.
