Spartan Softball Swept in Home Opener with Alma

CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Case Western Reserve University softball team opened the home portion of its 2011 schedule with a pair of losses to Alma College (MI) on Saturday, March 19 at Mather Park. The Spartans were downed 11-5 in the opener and 12-5 in the nightcap.

With the losses, the Spartans fall to 2-14 overall and are right back in action at home tomorrow versus Albion College (PA) at 1:00 p.m. With the sweep, Alma continues its hot start, improving to 13-2.

In game one, Alma jumped on the board with four runs in the first inning despite only recording one hit. The Scots took advantage of two walks and a hit batter, while Louise Rezmer supplied a two-run double down the left field line. The lead grew to 7-0 in the second when Becca DeWyse knocked a three-run homer off the foul pole in left. Case rallied with four runs in the fifth, as two runners scored following errors and freshman second baseman Courtney Branson (Orient, OH/Teays Valley) hit a two-run homer to center. However, Alma was able to respond with four in the six, as Amanda Schneider provided a key two-run single. 

On the mound, senior Beth Andrasik (Sagamore Hills, OH/Nordonia) started and suffered the loss in her first pitching action of the season. Freshman Katherine Seo (Salt Lake City, UT/Olympus) pitched seven innings in relief and struck out a pair. For Alma, Louise Rezmer struck out 10 and did not allow an earned run in a complete-game effort.

At the plate, Branson was 2-for-4 for Case. DeWyse drove in five runs for Alma, while Rezmer was 3-for-4 with two RBI.  

In game two, Alma took advantage of two Spartan errors in the opening frame and scored twice on a DeWyse single. Case got one in its half of the inning when Seo led off and lined her first career homerun to left. The Scots once again scored two in the second, and Case once again got a solo homerun in its half – this time by senior first baseman Anneliese Fetterman (Cupertino, CA/Monta Vista). Alma tried to pull away with three runs in the fifth thanks to two more Spartan errors, but Case kept it close in the bottom of the inning when Fetterman hit a three-run homer off the foul pole in left. Undaunted, the Scots pulled away with three more in the sixth and two in the seventh. Erin Pintek provided the crushing hit with a three-run HR in the sixth.

Senior Mary Kruszka (Lakeview, NY/Immaculata) pitched all seven innings for the Spartans, with only five of the 12 runs being earned. Brittany Grys threw the first 4.1 to get the win for Alma, while Tara Leddy tossed 2.2 shutout innings for the save.

At the plate, Fetterman was 3-for-4 with two homeruns and four RBI. Andrasik was 3-for-4 and Seo was 2-for-3 with a walk. DeWyse was 2-for-5 and drove in three more for Alma.