With a 16-run offensive outburst, the Case Western Reserve University baseball team upset 15th-ranked Denison University 16-12 in the team's rainy home opener at Nobby's Ballpark in Cleveland, Ohio on Saturday.

The Spartans improve to 5-8 on the season while the Big Red drop to 7-3. The scheduled second game of the doubleheader was postponed.

The 16 runs are the most for CWRU since the team scored 21 in a victory over the College of Wooster on May 16, 2021, the Spartans last home game.

Junior first baseman Nick Talarico hit his first career grand slam and finished the day two-for-three at the plate with four runs batted in, two runs scored, and three walks. Both junior second baseman Trey Haley and graduate student shortstop Jacob Lott drove in three runs for the Spartans with Lott going three-for-four and Haley going three-for-five with two steals. Junior catcher Jack Anderson had his first career four-hit game, going four-for-six at the plate with two runs scored and one batted in.

Sophomore starting pitcher Reece Marley earned his second win of the season, pitching four and two-thirds innings and allowing just one run on three hits. He added four strikeouts before getting pulled after a one-hour rain delay.

Case Western Reserve scored six runs in the first inning to take a 6-0 lead. Sophomore third baseman/pitcher Zack Carinci drove in Anderson and Haley with a single to get the Spartans on the board. With the bases loaded, junior outfielder Flynn Lenahan added a single through the right side of the infield to score Carinci. Senior center fielder Cole Jarrett followed with a single to give the Spartans a four-run advantage, and Lott finished the scoring with a two-run single.

Marley cruised through the first four innings, allowing just two hits and striking out three batters. With the rain starting to increase in the top of the fifth, the Big Red finally broke through with a run on a wild pitch. On the first pitch after the delay with runners on the corners, the CWRU defense stopped a double steal attempt at home to retire the side.

The Spartans responded with three runs in the bottom of the inning. Haley drove in Lott and Jarrett with a single, and he later scored on a sacrifice fly from Carinci. Lott added a run in the bottom of the sixth inning with a double to give CWRU a 10-1 advantage.  

Denison scored four unearned runs in the seventh inning to cut the deficit to five and struck for four more runs in the eighth to make it a one-run ballgame. Carinci appeared as a pitcher for the first time with two outs in the eighth inning but allowed two inherited runners to score before getting the Spartans out of the jam.

In the bottom of the eighth, Case Western Reserve increased its lead. A single from Haley drove in Lenahan. With runners on the corners, Anderson hit a grounder to the shortstop who threw wildly to second base, allowing Lott to score. Then, after Carinci walked, Talarico gave the Spartans a 16-9 lead with a grand slam to left center field.

However, the Big Red mounted another comeback, scoring three runs with two outs in the top of the ninth inning. With the bases loaded and the tying run on deck, Carinci came in to close the door. He hit the first batter he faced but struck out the next one looking to earn the save and give CWRU the hard-fought victory.

The Spartans offense totaled 18 hits in the contest, drew seven walks, and were hit by two pitches.

The two teams will conclude their series on Sunday at Big Red Field in Granville, Ohio with a doubleheader scheduled to start at 12 p.m.