Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 The Case Western Reserve University softball team swept its final two games at the Tucson Invitational in Tucson, Arizona on Friday, as the Spartans topped Buena Vista University 4-3 with a walk-off single in the first game, and then the offense erupted to earn a 13-2 victory over Gustavus Adolphus College in the second game.
With the pair of wins, the Spartans now stand at 11-1 on the year, while Buena Vista drops to 7-2 overall and Gustavus Adolphus falls to 3-6 on the season.
Game 1: CWRU 4, Buena Vista 3
The early game on Friday featured a back-and-forth game until senior Katie Wede hit the walk-off RBI single in the bottom of the seventh to drive in sophomore Ilissa Hamilton.
The Spartans got the board first when freshman Dusstyn Reynolds hit a two-run double to left field to score seniors Maren Waldner and Grace Tritchler in the bottom of the first.
Buena Vista answered the following half inning with three runs of their own to take a 3-2 lead. The score remained 3-2 until the bottom of the fourth when sophomore Nicole Carty stole home to even the game at 3-3. The game was at a standstill until the bottom of the seventh when Wede delivered the walk-off RBI single to secure the 4-3 victory.
Hamilton went the distance on the mound, allowing three runs on seven hits and striking out five batters. She improved to 4-0 with the victory.
Seven different Spartans collected a hit in the first game, including the seventh-inning walk-off RBI single from Wede.
Game 2: CWRU 13, Gustavus Adolphus 2
CWRU scored a run in six of the seven innings during the second game of the day, including a three-run third inning and a four-run seventh inning to secure the 13-2 win over Gustavus.
Freshman Sidney Brannam went seven innings, holding Gustavus Adolphus to two earned runs on five hits and three walks, while striking out six batters. It was her sixth win of the 2018 campaign.
Waldner and Tritchler led the Spartans at the plate during the second game, as each of them went four-for-five. Carty and freshman Sarah Miller each drove in three of the Spartan's 13 runs, while Waldner led the team with a game-high four runs scored.
Case Western Reserve will return to Cleveland next week and will quickly hit the road again, as they travel to Alliance, Ohio for a non-conference double-header on Wednesday, March 21st against the University of Mount Union. The first pitch of the first game is slated for 3:00 p.m.
