Despite a program-record 17 strikeouts from four pitchers, the Case Western Reserve University baseball team fell 7-6 to New York University at Nobby's Ballpark in Cleveland, Ohio on Friday afternoon to open a four-game weekend series.

The Spartans drop to 15-15 on the season and 6-3 in University Athletic Association play. The Violets improved to 17-6 overall and 7-6 in the UAA. The loss drops CWRU into a tie for first place with Emory atop the conference standings.

After graduate student left-handed pitcher Evan Faxon escaped a first inning jam by striking out the side, Case Western Reserve scored twice in the first inning to take an early lead. Junior catcher Jack Anderson, who led off the frame with a single and a stolen base, scored on a wild pitch to put the Spartans on the board. With one out, sophomore third baseman/pitcher Zack Carinci scored on a single from junior first baseman Nick Talarico to double the CWRU advantage.

Anderson finished the game three-for-five with a stolen base, his fourth game with at least three hits this season and his eighth game in a row with a hit.

Faxon struck out six of the first nine batters he faced and recorded nine punchouts in the game. He has 63 whiffs this season, becoming just the second pitcher in program history to record at least 60 strikeouts in a single season. Faxon allowed just one run on four hits and two walks in four innings and received a no decision.

Carinci added five strikeouts, sophomore pitcher Patrick O'Connor added two, and junior pitcher Sankalp Doshi added one to set the new program record. The previous record of 15 was set on March 7, 2004, against Washington University in St. Louis. Carinci allowed no runs on just one hit in two and two-thirds innings on the mound while going three-for-five at the plate with a triple, his fifth game with at least three hits.

The Violets cut into the deficit with a run in the top of the third inning on a single from Grant Berman.

CWRU added three runs in the fourth inning, extending the lead to 5-1. With two outs, junior second baseman Trey Haley drove in junior outfielder Flynn Lenahan with a single. Graduate student shortstop Jacob Lott followed with a double to score Haley. After Lott advanced to third on a balk, he scored on an infield single by Carinci. Haley reached base twice in the game and recorded two steals.   

Berman drove in the second NYU run with a solo homer in the top of the fifth, and the Violets added two more runs on a single from Jacob Singer. In the seventh inning, NYU loaded the bases with three walks and a three-run triple down the right field line by Connor Roggero gave the visitors a 7-5 lead.

The Spartans responded with a run in the bottom of the inning, when Carinci scored on an infield single from first-year center fielder Nick Harms. In the next inning, Haley reached third base as the tying run but could not score as NYU took the first game of the series.

The Spartans and Violets continue their series on Saturday with a doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for 12 p.m.