Case Western Reserve University first-year left-handed pitcher Reece Marley turned in a gem of an outing in game one of the Spartans' doubleheader at Denison University on Sunday to help lead the team to an 8-2 victory. The Spartans ended up splitting the doubleheader against Denison, falling 15-4 in the second game at Big Red Field in Granville, Ohio.

The Spartans now stand at 14-8 overall on the season, while Denison moved to 14-6. The two teams also split their four-game series over the weekend, while Denison ended the eight-game season series with the Spartans with a 5-3 edge.

Game 1 – CWRU 8, Denison 2
Marley recorded the best start of his career to help lift the Spartans to an 8-2 win over the Big Red in the first game of Sunday's doubleheader.

Marley did not allow an earned run in his seven innings of work. He struck out four batters and did not issue a walk, while giving up just four hits, all singles, to the Big Red. Marley earned the win in the game, improving to 2-1 on the season and lowering his ERA to 4.32.

The Spartans broke a scoreless tie in the top of the fifth. Sophomore second baseman Trey Haley walked to open the inning, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by sophomore outfielder Kevin Mackenzie, and scored on an RBI double by junior outfielder Cole Jarrett to give CWRU a 1-0 advantage.

Marley faced the minimum number of batters through the first four innings of the game, before an error cost him an unearned run in the top of the fifth, tying the game at 1-1. However, the Spartans had a response in the top half of the sixth. Senior catcher Tre Armstrong singled with one out, and sophomore outfielder Flynn Lenahan walked to put runners at first and second. Senior shortstop Jacob Lott followed with a single that scored two runs, and gave the Spartans the lead back, 3-1. Later in the inning, Mackenzie singled to drive in Lott, and extend the Spartans lead to 4-1.

CWRU added to its lead in the eighth with Lott driving in his second run of the game with an RBI triple, and Haley plating Lott on a sacrifice fly to give the Spartans a 6-1 advantage. In the ninth, Lenahan added a two-run single with two outs in the frame, extending CWRU's lead to 8-1. Junior Willem Bouma pitched a scoreless eighth before allowing a run in the ninth but induced a double play with the bases loaded to end the game and lock up the victory for the Spartans.

Lott finished the game three-for-five with the triple, two runs scored and two RBIs, while Mackenzie added a three-for-three game at the play with an RBI and a stolen base. First-year third baseman Zack Carinci went two-for-five with a run scored, extending his hitting streak to 15-straight games. CWRU outhit Denison 12-7 in the game.

Denison's Jarrett Hyder suffered the loss in relief, dropping to 0-2 on the campaign.

Game 2 – Denison 15, CWRU 4
Big innings by the Big Red in the first, fourth and fifth innings cost the Spartans in the second game of the doubleheader, as CWRU suffered a 15-4 setback.

CWRU scored a run before recording an out in the second game of the day. Jarrett led the game off with a walk and came around to score after two wild pitches and a throwing error by Denison's catcher. However, the Big Red responded with four runs in the bottom of the inning to take a 4-1 lead.

CWRU would pull closer in the bottom of the third on a double by senior designated hitter Jake Ryan that scored Mackenzie and Jarrett and brought the Spartans back within a run, 4-3. However, Denison extended its lead to 10-3 with a six-run bottom of the fourth and scored five more in the bottom of the fifth to take a 15-3 advantage.

The Spartans got a run back in the top of the eighth, when Lenahan walked to open the inning, stole second, and scored on a base hit by first-year second baseman Justin Zachery.

Sophomore starter Jackson Morris suffered his first career loss for the Spartans, dropping to 2-1 on the season. Henry Haack picked up the win for Denison, improving to 1-0.

Sophomores Sankalp Doshi and Jonathan Simon and first-year Matthew DuBois each pitched a scoreless inning in relief for the Spartans.

Ryan finished the game two-for-three with two doubles, two RBIs and two walks. Jarrett went one-for-two with a walk and two runs scored, and Carinci notched a one-for-four performance at the plate to extend his hitting streak to 16-straight games.

The Spartans will be back in action next weekend with a doubleheader at Ohio Wesleyan on Sunday, April 25. The first pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.