The Case Western Reserve University baseball team split a doubleheader with 15th-ranked Denison University on Sunday at Big Red Field in Granville, Ohio, winning the first game 6-5 but losing the second game 8-1.

The Spartans, who won two games in the three-game series with the Big Red, are now 6-9 on the season. Denison has an 8-3 record.

Game 1: CWRU 6, #15 Denison 5

Denison started the scoring with a three-run second inning. Case Western Reserve responded with two runs in the top of the fourth inning. A groundout from first-year catcher Jay Smith scored junior catcher Jack Anderson. First-year outfielder Logan Andreyko perfectly executed a safety squeeze to drive in sophomore third baseman Zack Carinci and bring the Spartans within one.

The Big Red increased their lead with two runs in the bottom of the fourth with a run-scoring triple and a run-scoring single.

With the bases loaded in the top of the next inning, junior first baseman Nick Talarico singled through the left side to make the score 5-4 in favor of Denison. Carinci followed with a single of his own, scoring two more runs and giving Case Western Reserve a 6-5 advantage.

With two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning, graduate student pitcher Evan Faxon conceded the mound to sophomore pitcher Tyler Horvath. Horvath recorded the final out of the inning and did not allow a hit in the eighth or ninth to record his second save of the season.

Carinci finished the game three-for-four at the plate with two runs batted in and a double. His .386 batting average, .471 on-base percentage, and .544 slugging percentage all lead the team.

Faxon (3-0) struck out the side in the first and third innings and finished the game with eight strikeouts in six and two-thirds innings. He averages 12.0 strikeouts per nine innings.

Game 2: #15 Denison 8, CWRU 1

The Spartans, attempting a three-game sweep of the 15th-ranked Big Red, fell short in the second game of the doubleheader. A five-run sixth inning pushed Denison ahead for good in the contest.

In the seventh inning, Andreyko hit his first career home run, a solo shot, to prevent the shutout.

CWRU attempted a two-out rally in the ninth inning, loading the bases on three straight walks to prompt a Denison pitching change. However, the next batter was retired, and the Big Red split the doubleheader.

The Spartans continue their seven-game road trip on Tuesday when the team travels to Adrian, Michigan to face #19 Adrian College. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m.