The Case Western Reserve University Softball team dropped two games this weekend against Wittenberg University.

In the first game of the doubleheader, the Spartans lost 4-1. In the second game, the final score was 8-4. The loss dropped the Spartans to 10-16 on the season while Wittenberg is now 15-2-1 after the sweep.

In the first of two games, the Tigers got on the board first thanks to a triple and an RBI single. Second-year student Grace Tritchler responded for the Spartans by launching a solo home run, which would be the only run of the game for the team. The hit was Tritchler’s sixth home run of the season. The game would remain tied for a few more innings until the bottom of the fifth when the Tigers got on the board again to make the score 2-1. After two more Tiger runs, the Spartans were unable to mount a comeback in the seventh and didn’t score a run after the fourth inning.

In the second game of the day, Wittenberg quickly jumped out to a 5-0 lead, emphasizing that the first game was not going to be like the second as the Tigers scored runs in each of the first three innings.

When the Spartans climbed back into the game in the top of the fourth thanks to runs by second-year student Katie Wede and third-year student Annie Wennerberg, the Tigers responded. Wittenberg scored three runs in the bottom of the fourth to extend the lead to 8-2, a lead that was insurmountable for the Spartans.

The Spartans would show resolve, however, after scoring two runs in the top of the sixth inning and having the bases loaded. The team would leave all the runners stranded, however, as the score 8-4 and the game was effectively over. When asked about the discrepancies in the run scoring between the two games, Head Coach Josie Henry said, “Their opening pitcher kept us off balance and we were not able to put together a big inning. We made a run off the starting pitcher in the second game and they brought back Zang for the final couple of innings.”

Wennerberg pitched well in the double header, tossing a complete game in the first matchup and pitching two scoreless innings in relief for the second game while striking out four Tiger batters.

As the Spartans enter the final month of the season, the team is struggling and needs to string multiple wins together. When asked how the team can turn things around in the final month, Henry said, “We need strong performances on all three sides—strong defense, solid pitching performances and finally one through nine in the lineup hitting the ball.”

The Spartans hosted Hiram on Tuesday in a double-header. The Spartans rode two games of high powered offense to a sweep of the visiting Terriers by scores 7-5 of in the first game and 8-1 in the second game of the afternoon. It was a strong rebound for the Spartans after the disappointing weekend.

The Spartans return to action on Saturday with a double header against Wooster University. The action kicks off at 1 p.m.