The Observer, April 11, 2008
Volume XL, Issue 24
Six-game home-stand ends in a splitter
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The Spartan baseball team has been extremely busy this past week, playing six games in just four days. After a slow start and some unlucky breaks, it looks as if the tides are starting to turn for the Spartans. Minus one poor game on Sunday, the team has played very well; they finished the six-game home-stand three and three. The team has seen some outstanding play from their catcher Chad Mullins who had a .727 on base percentage over the six games. In addition, pitcher Aron Kale has had outstanding days on the mound, picking up three wins, with two coming in one day. Here is how all the games played out:
April 5 Doubleheader vs. Hiram College
Game 1: L, 7-4 Game 2: W, 5-4
The first game played out in a back and forth fashion. Both teams scored two runs in the first inning with Case's coming courtesy of a flurry of hits by Mullins, Cory Pecoraro, Steve Crilley, and Steve Bills. Right-hander Kyle Silk allowed two more runs in the third; however the Case offense battled back, scoring one run in the fifth and tying the game in the bottom of the seventh. Back-to-back errors in the eighth cost Case Western the game as Hiram put up three runs, and the Spartans were left scoreless in the bottom half.
The second game seemed to be all Spartans until the top of the sixth. Kevin Haley pitched a solid five innings before landing himself into some trouble in the sixth when he gave up three earned runs. Yet, Kale came in to stop the bleeding and left the game tied at three apiece. The Spartans answered with Mullins hitting a double, followed by a Pecoraro triple that put the team up one where they remained.
April 6 Doubleheader vs. Mount Union College
Game 1: L, 19-3 Game 2: L, 5-4
Game one on the afternoon proved to be a disaster for Case. Plagued by errors and poor pitching, the Spartans saw a two-run deficit in the third balloon to a 14-run deficit in the fourth as the Purple Raiders went on an offensive tear. The home team was able to manage two more runs in the fourth, but allowed four more runs in the game and committed seven errors.
The second game proved much closer, but a lack of offensive production in the final inning left the Spartans one run short of Mount Union. With the score tied 3-3 in the top of the fifth, Mount Union managed to squeeze two more runs out of starting pitcher Devin Dye in the top of the fifth and sixth innings. With their backs against the wall, Case Western mounted a comeback, scoring one run in the seventh, but couldn't finish it; Clay Hurley was left on third at the end of the game.
April 8 Doubleheader vs. Bethany College
Game 1: W, 16-11 Game 2: W, 7-2
At 2 p.m., Case Western began one of its wildest and best offensive games this season. With an 8-0 lead heading into the fifth inning, the Spartans looked to have everything under control. But Bethany had plans of its own, scoring 11 runs in two innings. Case had some thunder left in their bats as well, scoring another eight runs in their final two innings. Clay Hurley was perfect on the day, going 3-3, scoring three runs, and tacked on an RBI. Aron Kale had another great finish, keeping the Bison off the scoreboard in one and one-third innings of work and picking up the win.
In the late game, the Spartans played one of their best complete games of the season. Kale, who closed the first game, started this game and finished it with authority. In seven innings Kale allowed only seven hits and two runs. Mullins and Hurley continued to build on their first game, both reaching base each at- bat. Mullins went 4-4 while Hurley went 1-1 and was hit by two pitches.
