The Case Western Reserve University baseball team went on the road to play a four-game series against Emory University in Atlanta this past weekend from March 29-31. Previously, the Spartans took a full series sweep against the University of Chicago, in which Head Coach Matt Englander attained over 400 career game wins, well above the program record.
The Spartans started off the first game strong after third-year center fielder Logan Andreyko was hit by a pitch, followed by a double by graduate student catcher Jack Anderson, affording two runners on base ready to score. Graduate student third baseman James Powers drove in the first run of the game with a single to left field, and a one-out sacrifice fly from graduate student first baseman Dane Camphausen allowed Anderson to bring in another run, putting the Spartans at 2-0 lead for the first two innings.
In the top of the third, Anderson doubled again and scored on a groundout by Camphausen. Emory responded in the bottom of the third and was able to score a run. Due to two errors in the top of the fourth by Emory, CWRU scored an additional two runs to extend their lead to 5-1. The Eagles attempted to comeback scoring three runs in the bottom of the sixth but the Spartans extended their lead in the seventh and eighth innings with a combined total of seven RBI hits from Powers, Camphausen and first-year second baseman Tyler Stillson, in addition to four two-out runs resulting in a 12-5 victory.
The Eagles got on the scoreboard first in the second game, with a run in the bottom of the second. This was met with Camphausen hitting a three-run home run in the top of the third inning, allowing the Spartans to lead until the bottom of the fourth in which Emory scored four runs, making the score 5-3. After starting off the fifth with a base hit from Andreyko and getting a base hit and Anderson’s third two-run home run of the season, CWRU was able to close the gap between Emory and tie the game.
The Spartans and Eagles then went back and forth on the scoreboard between the fifth and the seventh, but the Eagles went on to score three in the bottom of the inning to lead 13-9. CWRU responded by scoring five runs in the top of the eighth as a result of doubles from Powers, first-year pinch hitter Carson Walker, and graduate student left fielder Franco Alonso that put the Spartans ahead 14-13. This lead was short-lived, as the Eagles answered with three runs at the end of the inning. As a result of not being able to score in the ninth, Emory won 16-14 and put an end to CWRU’s seven-game winning streak.
CWRU started off the third game with a 1-0 lead from an RBI groundout by third-year right fielder Nick Harms, but the Eagles responded by scoring three runs in the second for the 3-1 lead. These runs scored by Emory were the only three allowed by second-year right-handed pitcher Archer Stankowski during his seven innings played, in addition to scattering seven hits and three walks. Overall, Stankowski struck out six batters, and after the win, improved to 4-1 on the season with a 3.27 ERA.
The score remained the same until the top of the sixth when CWRU rallied to get ahead 4-3 after a base-clearing triple from second-year center fielder Matt Trout. The momentum continued into the seventh inning as the Spartans scored five runs to extend the lead 9-3. Emory attempted to answer back by scoring four runs in the ninth, but this campaign was cut short after Anderson recorded a strikeout and a pop-out to obtain the first two outs of the inning. The 9-7 win for the Spartans was then sealed by second-year catcher Sean Donahue when he threw out a runner for Emory that tried to move up on a wild pitch.
The Spartans took a 2-0 lead in the first inning of the fourth game after a two-run home run by Harms, but Emory also got on the board by scoring a run in the bottom of the second. In the top of the third the Spartans scored two more runs from an RBI groundout by Camphausen and a run-scoring double from Alonso to lead 4-1. The Eagles attempted to respond with a run in the bottom of the inning and loaded the bases with one out, but Stillson initiated a double play to end the inning and prevent Emory from scoring. In the top of the fourth, Camphausen hit a three-run home run to left field, extending the CWRU’s lead to 7-2. The Eagles battled back with three runs in the fourth and one in the fifth to get back within a run, 7-6.
At the top of the sixth, the Spartans scored 11 runs from seven hits and six walks, affording an 18-6 lead. This was made possible by a pair of runners scoring at home base by hits from Camphausen, Harms, Anderson and Powers. The score became final as Emory was unable to score for the rest of the game.
Most notably, Powers was named the UAA Hitter of the Week after the series against Emory for going 9-for-18 with a double and recording 10 runs scored, nine runs batted in, three walks and three stolen bases on as many tries. Powers slugged .556 with a .571 on base percentage for a 1.127 OPS. Powers hit safely in all four games at Emory and drove in at least two runs in each contest.
Additionally, Camphausen was named Spartan Club Athlete of the Week after the series for going 6-for-10 with 13 runs batted in, four runs scored, two home runs, two doubles and a walk. Camphausen finished the series slugging 1.400 with a .583 on-base percentage for a 1.983 OPS.
Overall, CWRU won three out of the four games in the series, improving to 17-6 overall record, while Emory fell to 14-12 with the losses. The Spartan series win, combined with a loss by the Washington University in St. Louis to New York University last weekend, allowed the Spartans and the Bears to tie for first place in the league standings.
This weekend from April 5-7, the Spartans will be aiming to regain their win streak as they face off in a series against the 4-13 Brandeis University Judges this weekend at Nobby’s Ballpark.