CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Case Western Reserve University softball team split a lengthy doubleheader with visiting Muskingum University on Thursday, April 14 at Mather Park. The Spartans stretched their win streak to a season-high nine games with an 8-3 victory in the opener, but the Muskies came back to take the nightcap, 11-4.  

The Spartans (15-21 overall) belted three homeruns on the day to bring their total to 22 during the past 11 games.

In game one, Muskingum (9-18) took advantage of two walks and a hit batter en route to scoring a pair of runs in the first inning, but the Spartans came right back with four in their half of the frame. Freshman leftfielder Katherine Seo (Salt Lake City, UT/Olympus) led off with a homer to left center before RBI singles from senior shortstop Beth Andrasik (Sagamore Hills, OH/Nordonia), junior first baseman Lauren Wolz (Ashburn, VA/Stone Bridge) and freshman catcher Amy Taylor (Brier, WA/Inglemoor).  

Freshman second baseman Courtney Branson (Orient, OH/Teays Valley) accounted for the next two Spartan runs with an RBI single in the second and a sacrifice fly in the fourth. Junior designated player Ianna Wasser (Warwick, RI/Toll Gate) then brought home two more in the fourth on a double to right center.

Freshman pitcher Makenzie Lein (Petersburg, MI/Ida) settled in after a shaky first to improve to 10-6 for the season. In her 11th complete game, she allowed three earned runs with a strikeout.

At the plate, Branson was 2-for-2 with two runs batted-in, while Seo and Andrasik were each 2-for-4 with an RBI.

In game two, Muskingum got on the board with three runs in the third inning when Mary Margaret Boda singled home two and Kristyn Heagen scored on one of three Spartan errors in the frame. Case got one in its half of the third following an RBI single by Lein then picked up three more in the fourth as Wolz led off with an opposite field homer and Branson followed with a long ball to center. The fourth run in the inning scored on a Muskie error.

The visitors were quick to answer in the fifth inning as Heagen led off with a homer to spark a four-run inning that benefitted from another Spartan error. Muskingum added to its lead with two more in the sixth and seventh.

On the mound, Seo started and threw the first four innings and allowed four earned runs to fall to 5-8. Lein tossed the final three innings and allowed two earned runs.

At the plate, Wasser was 2-for-2 and Wolz was 2-for-3.

The Spartans are back in action tomorrow afternoon at Ursuline College in Pepper Pike. First pitch is set for 3:30 p.m.