Case Western Reserve University senior outfielder Cole Jarrett broke a 7-7 tie with a walk-off single in the first game of the day, and first-year outfielder Nick Harms connected on a walk-off two-run home run to lead the team to a 4-2 win in the second game, as the Spartans swept a doubleheader against Washington University (Mo.) at Nobby's Ballpark in Cleveland, Ohio on Saturday.

With the two wins, the Spartans improved to 20-16 overall and to 11-4 in University Athletic Association play, and will enter the final day of conference competition in a dead tie with Emory for first place in the standings. CWRU can clinch at least a share of the title with a win on Sunday in the series finale with the Bears.

Washington dropped to 11-20 overall with a 3-12 record in the UAA following the two losses.

Harms finished the day three-for-nine with a home run in each contest, and now has a team-high seven this season, tied for the seventh most in a season in program history. Six of his seven home runs have come in UAA games, the most among conference players this season.

Game 1 – CWRU 8, WashU 7
With runners at first and second and one out in the bottom of the ninth, Jarrett delivered a game-winning single to score junior first baseman Nick Talarico and give the Spartans an 8-7 win over the Bears.

After the Bears overcame a five-run deficit heading into the ninth to tie the game at 7-7, Talarico drew an eight-pitch walk to open the inning, and graduate student designated hitter Tre Armstrong was hit by a pitch, moving the Talarico into scoring position. Two batters later, Jarrett delivered the game-winning hit to lift the Spartans to victory.

CWRU entered the ninth inning with a five run lead, in large part to due a stellar start from graduate student pitcher Evan Faxon. The southpaw pitched a season-long eight innings, allowing just two runs on five hits and did not issue a walk. He struck out nine batters in the contest and now has 72 for the season, moving within three of the program's single-season record.

Faxon allowed a run in the fourth, but the Spartans took the lead in the fifth, tying the game on a one-out RBI single from junior outfielder Flynn Lenahan, and tying the game on a sacrifice fly by graduate student shortstop Jacob Lott. Harms led the sixth inning off with a solo home run to extend the Spartans' lead to 3-1, and after Lenahan tripled, Jarrett drove him in with a base hit. Later in the inning, Jarrett crossed home plate on a balk, and junior catcher Jack Anderson doubled to plate two more, and put CWRU ahead 7-1.

The Bears pulled closer on a two-out double that scored a run in the eighth, and then evened the score with a five-run top of the ninth, including two runs scoring on a key error with two outs in the frame. However, Jarrett's heroics in the bottom of the frame allowed the Spartans to pull out the win.

CWRU totaled 14 hits in the game, including a four-for-five performance from Jarrett with a run and two RBI. Lenahan and junior second baseman Trey Haley each registered two hits as well in the game.

Sophomore Tyler Horvath earned the win in relief for CWRU, improving to 2-1 on the campaign, while Kyle Coates suffered the loss for Washington to drop to 1-3.

Game 2 – CWRU 4, WashU 2
A strong start from senior Nick Denove and Harms' two-out home run in the bottom of the ninth allowed the Spartans to sweep the Bears on Saturday with a 4-2 win in the second contest of the day.

Sophomore third baseman Zack Carinci finished the game three-for-five, including a single with two outs in the bottom of the ninth to keep the inning going for Harms. On the first pitch of his at bat, Harms, a St. Louis native, deposited the ball over the wall in right field against his hometown team to give the Spartans their second walk of win in a matter of hours.

The Spartans took the early lead in the game, behind a two-run, two-out single in the bottom of the first by Lenahan. Denove made the two runs hold up for the majority of the contest, holding the Bears scoreless over the first six and two-thirds innings, before Washington finally scored in the top of the seventh, cutting the lead to 2-1. CWRU remained in the lead until the ninth, when the Bears evened the score with a one-out sacrifice fly.

Denove allowed four hits and two walks, while yielding just the one run and striking out seven over his outing. Carinci, who pitched the final two and a third innings, allowed just a run on a hit with one walk and two strikeouts, and picked up the win to improve to 2-1 for the season.

Will Henkel suffered the loss in relief for Washington, falling to 0-2 on the year.

Prior to the start of play on Saturday, the Spartans held a special 'Senior Day' ceremony to recognize the four graduating seniors on the team – pitcher Willem Bouma, Denove, Jarrett and pitcher Keaton Stankowski. Together, the group has helped the Spartans notch a 69-36 overall record over the past four seasons.

The Spartans and the Bears will conclude their four-game series on Sunday with first pitch from Nobby's Ballpark scheduled for 11:00 a.m.