The Case Western Reserve University softball team dropped both ends of a Monday afternoon doubleheader versus the University of Mount Union at 23rd Street Field. The Spartans were blanked in game one, 7-0, then outslugged in the nightcap, 11-5.

The Spartans drop to 20-13 for the season and return home for a doubleheader versus Adrian College on Saturday, April 14 at 2 p.m. at Mather Park. Mount Union snaps a four-game losing skid and improves to 12-16 overall.

In game one, the Spartan offense was stymied by Mount Union starter Bre Willis, who allowed just three hits and two walks while striking out six.

Aside from a Purple Raider run in the third inning, the game remained close until the hosts broke out for four tallies in the fifth and two more in the sixth. The fifth inning was highlighted by a leadoff solo homerun by Kristen Gromes and a two-run round-tripper by Leigh Siedlak. Siedlak also keyed the sixth inning with a two-run single.

On the mound for Case, freshman Rebecca Taylor surrendered seven earned runs on 11 hits while fanning five.

At the plate, senior third baseman Kaeleen Boden was one-for-three with the Spartans’ only extra base-hit, a double in the second.

In game two, Mount Union started fast with two in the first and four in the second as Amy Brown highlighted inning number two with a two-run homer.

The Spartans pulled back into the thick of it in the third inning, which Molly O’Brien led off with a single. Mackenzie Lein put the Spartans on the scoreboard, driving in Lein with a double to right field. First baseman Lauren Wolz slotted a single through the third base gap and drove in Lein. Boden would add another pair of runs onto the Spartans’ tally, pushing them to four with a double. A throwing error brought Boden home, with the score at 6-5 heading into the bottom of the third.

However, the hosts took advantage of two of Case’s four errors to put the game away with two runs in the fourth and three more in the fifth.

Freshman pitcher Hillary Bunnelle was roughed up in her second career start, allowing nine earned runs in 4.1 innings. Taylor came on in relief and struck out three in 1.2 scoreless innings.

Willis came out of the bullpen for the Raiders in the third and struck out five while not allowing a run in 4.1 innings.

For the Case offense, Lein, Wolz, and Bunnelle were each two-for-four with a double.

The Spartans host Adrian College on Saturday, April 14 on as they round out their season with eight of the final ten games at Mather Field. The first pitch of the doubleheader against the Bulldogs is scheduled for 2 p.m. The Bulldogs are 13-10 overall.