The Case Western Reserve University baseball team went 3-1 this past weekend after hosting Kenyon College in a doubleheader and going on the road to face Ohio Wesleyan University and Denison University. The Spartans made quick work of Kenyon on April 13, winning the two games 16-6 and 5-1. On April 14, the Spartans dominated Ohio Wesleyan 28-3 but fell to #2-ranked Denison 5-8. The Spartans improved to 24-7 overall and 7-1 in the conference. CWRU is undefeated at home, 6-4 on the road and 6-3 in neutral territory.
Kenyon struck first in Game 1, scoring 3 runs in the first inning. CWRU answered back in the third inning, with a two-out, two-RBI single from graduate student first baseman Dane Camphausen. Kenyon fired back with two runs in the fourth, but graduate student third baseman James Powers hit an RBI double in the fifth and Camphausen hit a sacrifice fly to bring CWRU back 4-5.
Again, Kenyon had a response but it would be their last one of the morning. After Kenyon pushed its lead back to 6-4, the Spartans sent 12 batters to the plate for 6 runs. Fourth-year designated hitter Zack Carinci scored on a wild pitch. Graduate student catcher Jack Anderson hit an RBI single to plate first-year shortstop Nate Arterburn for the 6-6 tie. After third-year left fielder Logan Andreyko took advantage of a wild pitch with a go-ahead run, Powers hit an RBI double and third-year right fielder Nick Harms smashed a two-run home run for the 10-6 lead.
The Spartans went on to score six more runs, including a two-RBI single for Carinci, sealing the game 16-6. Camphausen went 2-for-5 with a double and 4 RBIs, Powers added a 3-for-4 performance with 4 runs, an RBI, a walk and a steal. Andreyko added 2 walks and 3 runs after going 2-for-4. Fourth-year pitcher Reece Marley struck out 6 batters in the first six innings. First-year Zach Barnes took over and prevented Kenyon from scoring for the rest of the game, improving his ERA to 4.19 and scattering 4 hits and striking out 3 batters.
In game 2, Anderson scored the opening run, allowing Harms to steal second base and score on a Camphausen single. First-year third baseman Tyler Stillson then scored on a double play, giving CWRU a 3-0 lead. In the bottom of the sixth, Harms hit a home run through centerfield with a runner on second to push the Spartan’s lead to 5-0. This was Harms’ eighth career home run and his second two-run home run of the weekend. Kenyon only picked up a run in the eighth, and the Spartans took the game 5-1.
The strong defense is credited to first-year lefty Quinn Saunders, who pitched six shutout innings, holding the Owls to 2 hits and 4 walks while not allowing a runner past second base. Saunders improved to 4-0 on the season, while lowering his ERA to 3.90.
The next day against Ohio Wesleyan, the Spartans were on fire, launching for a program record for runs and hits in a single game. CWRU hit four home runs, recording 32 for the season, besting the previous school record of 30 in 2019. The 28 runs on 24 hits scored by the Spartans broke the previous record of 27 runs set against Brandeis University last April. Twelve players scored at least one hit and 13 Spartans recorded at least one run during this rampage that led to a 28-3 victory. Stillson led the charge on both sides, finishing the game going 2-for-3 including a grand slam, 6 RBIs and 2 runs. On the mound, he allowed just 3 runs on 4 hits, 4 walks and 2 strikeouts. Powers went 3-for-5 with a home run, a double, 3 runs and 6 RBIs, graduate student left fielder Franco Alonso went 4-for-4 for a home run, a double, 3 runs and 2 RBIs and Carinci went 4-for-5 with 2 doubles, a run and 3 RBIs.
Facing Denison later in the day was a tall task that proved to be too much for the Spartans. They started off the game strong, changing leads with the Big Red three times over the first three innings. Andreyko kicked off the game with a single, moved to third on a Denison error then scored on a sacrifice fly from Anderson for the 1-0 CWRU lead. Denison took the lead in the bottom of the first, but the Spartans responded with back-to-back doubles from Camphausen and Carinci to tie it. First-year center fielder Matt Trout hit a one-out run-scoring single for the 3-2 lead. Denison again tied it at the bottom of the second. CWRU answered once again, with Alonso hitting a single to drive in two runs for the 5-3 advantage.
This time, however, the Big Red blasted the game open with five runs in the bottom of the third to take the 8-5 lead. CWRU, however, did not give up as third-year pitcher Jackson Brewer did not allow an earned run in his four innings of work. But the offense had lost its rhythm and so the Spartans lost 5-8, snapping their 9-game win streak.
CWRU will head to New York City this weekend to face New York University in a 4-game series from April 19-21.