Box Score Despite a late attempt at a comeback attempt, the Case Western Reserve University baseball team dropped the series finale of its season-opening weekend at nationally 15th/16th-ranked Shenandoah University, 7-4 in Winchester, Virginia on Sunday afternoon.
The Spartans fell to 0-3 on the year with the loss, while Shenandoah raised its record to 3-0.
Case Western Reserve fell into an early hole on Sunday, after Shenandoah struck for four runs in the first inning, and another two in the second, to take a 6-0 lead. The Spartans' pitchers settled in from there, behind three solid innings of work from junior Preston Williams, who allowed just one run on one hit and a pair of walks, while striking out three during his three innings of work.
Junior captain Jake Shields followed out of the bullpen with three scoreless innings of his own. Shields yielded just one hit and a walk, while striking out a pair. His effort helped keep the Spartans within striking distance of the Hornets.
Trailing 7-0 heading into the eighth, Tyler Schovanec led the inning off with a pinch hit single, and junior captain Josh Neal was hit by a pitch, a wild pitch moved the two runners to second and third. Freshman Rocco Maue drove in the first run of the game, when a throwing error scored Schovanec from third, and a freshman catcher Tyler Wypiszenski followed with a two RBI double, cutting the lead to 7-3. Wypiszenski would later score on a wild pitch to cut the lead down to three. The Spartans brought the tying run to the plate in the inning, but would be unsuccessful in getting any closer during the frame.
After a one-two-three bottom of the eighth, CWRU threatened again in the ninth, loading the bases with two outs against Shenandoah closer Phil Morse, before a strikeout ended the Spartans' last-chance comeback attempt.
Neal collected two of the Spartans eight hits in the game, including a double, while also stealing his second base of the season during the game. Shenandoah's Dan Cameron paced the Hornets with a four-for-four day, including three runs scored and a double.
Case Western Reserve will be back in action next weekend, when it heads to Chillicothe, Ohio for a pair of games against each of Manchester and Heidelberg.
