Skip To Main Content

Scoreboard

Case Western Reserve University Athletics
Case Western Reserve University Athletics

Scoreboard

Baseball

Fortunato Throws Complete Game, No. 21 Spartans Split Road Twinbill at No. 23 Heidelberg

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

TIFFIN, Ohio – A complete-game effort from senior pitcher John Fortunato (Toledo, Ohio/St. Francis de Sales) led the No. 21 Case Western Reserve University baseball team to a doubleheader split at No. 23 Heidelberg University on Friday afternoon at Patriots Park at Peaceful Valley.

The Student Princes (15-4) won the opener, 3-2, but the Spartans (14-4) came back with a 6-1 victory in game two. The twinbill between the nationally ranked programs was originally scheduled for March 26 but postponed twice due to inclement weather.

Fortunato (4-0) stayed unbeaten for his senior season with just one earned run allowed in game two. In nine innings, the left-hander scattered five hits and struck out six. He now boasts a 1.58 ERA in 40 innings this season.

On a day where scoring was at a premium, junior second baseman Kerrigan Cain (Hartville, Ohio/Archbishop Hoban) finished 3-for-8 with a walk and three RBI for the Spartans.

In game one, both teams went scoreless until a Joe Staab RBI double put Heidelberg on top 1-0 in the third. The hosts added another run to their advantage in the fifth when Staab singled to plate Alex Grove, but the Spartans responded with a pair in top of the sixth thanks to RBI singles from junior third baseman Andrew Gronski (Hilliard, Ohio/Hilliard Davidson) and Cain.

After scoreless at-bats for each side, the Student Princes went on top for good in the seventh when Staab followed a fielding error with a hit-and-run RBI single to left scoring Adam Hershberger.

In relief of starter Kyle Fluharty, Heidelberg's Derek Hendrixson (3-1) threw three shutout innings with three strikeouts for the win. Senior reliever Ray Kelly (Rochester, N.Y./Aquinas Institute) didn't allow an earned run in 2 2/3 innings for the Spartans, but the left-hander suffered his first loss of the year to fall to 3-1.

Offensively, Staab finished 3-for-3 with three RBI and a stolen base for Heidelberg. Cain went 2-for-4 for the Spartans.

In game two, CWRU jumped out a 3-0 lead in the second following a two-run single by senior shortstop Andrew Frey (Mentor, Ohio/Mentor) and a run-scoring error. Heidelberg got one back in the bottom of the inning when Derek Hug lined a solo homer to right, but the Spartans answered with two in the top of the third on a single to right center by Cain. Five scoreless innings ensued before a sacrifice fly by sophomore designated hitter Noah Sherman (Kensington, Md./Georgetown Preparatory) made the score 6-1.

Gronski was 2-for-4 at the plate, while Cain drove home a pair and scored one.

Zach O'Driscoll (1-1) took the loss for "The Berg" in 2 1/3 innings on the mound.

The Spartans play a three-game neutral site doubleheader with Allegheny College (Pa.) on Saturday and Sunday, March 29-30 in Kent, Ohio. The first game is set for Saturday at 5:00 p.m. at Olga A. Mural Field at Schoonover Stadium. The two squads then play a 12:00 p.m. doubleheader on Sunday.

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

Kerrigan Cain

#4 Kerrigan Cain

2B/1B
6' 0"
Junior
John Fortunato

#22 John Fortunato

P
6' 1"
Senior
Andrew Frey

#23 Andrew Frey

SS
6' 0"
Senior
Andrew Gronski

#36 Andrew Gronski

3B
5' 11"
Junior
Ray Kelly

#32 Ray Kelly

P
6' 5"
Senior
Noah Sherman

#33 Noah Sherman

1B
6' 3"
Sophomore

Players Mentioned

Kerrigan Cain

#4 Kerrigan Cain

6' 0"
Junior
2B/1B
John Fortunato

#22 John Fortunato

6' 1"
Senior
P
Andrew Frey

#23 Andrew Frey

6' 0"
Senior
SS
Andrew Gronski

#36 Andrew Gronski

5' 11"
Junior
3B
Ray Kelly

#32 Ray Kelly

6' 5"
Senior
P
Noah Sherman

#33 Noah Sherman

6' 3"
Sophomore
1B