Case Western Reserve University built an early 6-0 lead on Sunday afternoon, but Roger Williams University rallied for a comeback, as the Hawks walked off in the bottom of the ninth inning with a 8-7 win over the Spartans at the Spartan Southern Classic in Lexington, South Carolina.

The loss dropped the Spartans to 2-4 overall on the season, while Roger Williams improved to 2-3 with the win.

CWRU jumped out to an early lead on Sunday, scoring three runs in the top of the second. CWRU loaded the bases with no outs in the inning on a single by first-year outfielder Flynn Lenahan, a double by first-year third baseman Trey Haley, and a walk to junior designated hitter Tre Armstrong. Groundouts by first-year outfielder Jonathan Simon and sophomore outfielder Cole Jarrett each scored runs, and junior catcher Jake Ryan added an RBI single to put the Spartans ahead 3-0.

Lenahan plated a run in the top of the third with a sacrifice fly, and first-year second baseman Benjamin Gorski drove in a run with a base hit in the fourth to extend the lead to 5-0. In the top of the sixth, senior first baseman Casey McConihe made it a 6-0 lead with an RBI double that scored Gorski.

Sophomore left-handed starter Nick Denove held the Hawks scoreless through the first five innings, and had two outs in the sixth before Roger Williams broke out for a five-run rally to pull back within a run. Senior reliever Scott Kutschke would get the final out in the sixth and pitch scoreless innings in the seventh and eighth. The Spartans rallied for three-straight hits with two outs in the eighth inning, and McConihe put CWRU ahead 7-5 with an RBI hit during the frame.

However, the Hawks would finish off the comeback in the ninth inning against Kutschke. A one-out, two run home run by Kyle Davenport evened the score, and with a runner on first and two outs, Tyler Cedeno doubled to centerfield, scoring Justin Stone and giving the Hawks the victory.

Kutschke took the loss for the Spartans, falling to 0-1 on the year, while Chris Flynn earned the win in relief to improve to 1-0.

The Spartans finished the game with a season-high 15 hits. Ryan, Gorski and McConihe each registered three-hit games, while Haley picked up a pair of hits in the game.

The Spartans will be back in action on Monday at the Spartan Southern Classic, facing Roger Williams again at 12:00 p.m., followed by a 3:00 p.m. game against Alfred State.