In its first road action of 2019, the Case Western Reserve University softball team lost three of four games to Brandeis University on April 12 and 13.

The Spartans won the opening game of the series, 4-2. Third-year pitcher Ilissa Hamilton threw yet another complete game, striking out 10 en route to her eighth win on the season.

CWRU scored first thanks to a third inning single by second-year catcher Dusstyn Reynolds. After another Spartan crossed the plate in the top of the sixth, Brandeis tied the score in the bottom of the sixth, putting the pressure on the Spartans with one inning left. Then, an error by the Brandeis defense brought second-year outfielder Arisa Cleaveland home and third-year outfielder Melissa Cuellar drove in Reynolds to extend the lead to 4-2. Hamilton held Brandeis scoreless in the final inning to secure the victory.

However, CWRU struggled in the remaining games of the series. The Spartans’ bats froze up during the second contest on Friday. Brandeis held CWRU to one hit and no runs, eventually winning 5-0. First-year designated player Liv Thomas recorded the only hit of the game with two out in the seventh inning.

The following day was more like the latter game than the former. In the first contest, Brandeis secured a 4-1 win. The Spartans collected seven hits but could not produce more than one run. Cuellar had the lone RBI in the fourth inning, which actually put CWRU in the lead. Brandeis scored their four runs in the bottom of the fifth and didn’t look back.

Finally, Brandeis emerged with a walk-off victory in the series finale, 3-2, securing the series victory and sending CWRU back to Cleveland with just one win.

The Spartans opened the scoring in the second inning, but Brandeis tied things up in the third. Later, Cleveland stole home in the top of the fifth to take a 2-1 lead. Yet again, Brandeis tied the score in the subsequent inning. In the bottom of the seventh, Brandeis hit a sacrifice fly ball to score the game-winning run.

On Wednesday, April 17 CWRU defeated Heidelberg University in a two-game non-conference series. The team beat Heidelberg 8-0 in the first game and 9-4 in the second.

The Spartans return to University Athletic Association play April 19 and 20 at home against Emory University. April 20 is also Senior Day for the Spartans.