Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 The Case Western Reserve University softball team picked up a pair of wins on Thursday in Tucson, Arizona, as the offense came alive in a 7-5 win over George Fox University in the first game of the day, and then picked up a 4-2 win over St. Mary's College in the late contest.
The Spartans improved to 3-3 on the season with the two wins, while the Bruins dropped to 4-6 overall and the Belles fell to 1-6 on the season.
Game 1: CWRU 7, George Fox 5
Case Western Reserve University freshman designated player Liv Thomas led the Spartans at the plate with a two-for-three performance in which she drove in two runs, including two doubles.
George Fox jumped out to the early lead, as they scored two runs in the third and a run in the fourth to take a 3-0 lead after four innings of play.
The Spartans got the board in the bottom of the fifth, as the squad erupted for five runs in the inning. Sophomore Sarah Miller and junior Nicole Carty each tallied RBI singles in the inning, while Thomas laced an RBI double down the right field line that scored Miller and freshman Mary Godley.
CWRU added two more runs in the bottom of the sixth when sophomore Dusstyn Reynolds hit a two-run RBI double down the left field line that scored junior Ilissa Hamilton and sophomore Sydney Wagner to increase the Spartan lead to 7-3. The Bruins attempted a comeback in the to of the seventh, but CWRU was able to hold on for the 7-5 victory.
Carty went two-for-three at the plate with one RBI, while Reynolds went one-for-four with two runs batted in.
Hamilton pitched the first six innings, allowing two earned runs on five hits and a walk, while striking out six. She improved to 2-1 on the season with the victory. Carty wrapped up the victory as she allowed two unearned runs in one inning of relief, to notch her first save of the campaign.
Game 2: CWRU 4, St. Mary's 2
The Spartans opened up the scoring right away during the second game of the day, as Reynolds hit a RBI triple to right center field that scored sophomore Arisa Cleaveland from first to give CWRU a 1-0 lead in the top of the first. Thomas continued the early offense as she hit a sacrifice fly to center field that scored Reynolds from third. Sophomore Hope Yashnik then stepped to the plate and delivered a two-run RBI single through the right side of the infield that scored Carty and senior Nicole Doyle.
The Belles would respond in the bottom of the second inning as JoAnna Keilman and Kelsey Keilman each drew based loaded walks to cut the Spartans lead to 4-2. However, that would be final scoring of the game as CWRU shutout St. Mary's to earn the 4-2 win.
Carty started and made it into the second inning before sophomore Sidney Brannam entered and pitched a scoreless 5.2 innings of relief. Brannam allowed only four hits and one walk, while striking out five batters.
At the plate, Reynolds and Doyle each registered a two-for-three performance, including a double and triple from Reynolds.
Case Western Reserve will conclude the Tucson Invitational with two games on Friday, March 15th. The first game is scheduled to start at 1:30 p.m. ET against Buena Vista University, followed by a game against the University of Wisconsin at Platteville at 3:30 p.m. ET in Tucson, Arizona.
