Case Western Reserve University first-year catcher Sean Donahue broke a 3-3 tie in the bottom of the eighth with a three-run double, as the Spartans topped crosstown opponent John Carroll University 8-3 on Tuesday afternoon at Nobby's Ballpark in Cleveland.

The Spartans have now won three of their last four games to improve to 8-6 overall on the season. John Carroll fell to 10-6 following the loss.

Making the first start of his collegiate career, Donahue finished the game two-for-four with a double, two runs scored, and three runs batted in. Junior designated hitter Zack Carinci went two-for-four with a double, two RBI, two runs scored, and a walk, while senior shortstop Jack Anderson added a two-for-five day with a pair of RBIs.

The game was scoreless until the top of the fourth when the Blue Streaks scored a pair to take a 2-0 lead. CWRU answered in the bottom of the inning as Carinci singled to start the frame and later scored on a double play. The Spartans took their first lead of the game on a two-RBI double by Carinci in the bottom of the fifth, going ahead 3-2.

The Spartans remained ahead by a run until the top of the seventh when John Carroll evened the score with a two-out run.

With the score knotted at three heading into the bottom of the eighth, Carinci walked and sophomore outfielder Nick Harms was hit by a pitch to start the stanza. The next two Spartan hitters were each retired, but sophomore outfielder Logan Andreyko extended the inning for Donahue by drawing a walk to load the bases. Donahue laced a 2-2 pitch over the head of the right fielder, allowing all three runs to score and giving CWRU a 6-3 lead. Later in the inning, a two-run single by Anderson extended the CWRU lead to five heading into the ninth.

CWRU junior Tyler Horvath allowed a leadoff single in the ninth but notched a flyout and a double play to secure the win for the Spartans.

Sophomore Kyle Gearding pitched a scoreless eighth inning, earning the win for the Spartans to improve to 3-0 on the season. Junior Matthew DuBois started and delivered a pair of hitless innings and was followed out of the bullpen by first-year Austin McGowan who allowed a pair of runs in four innings of work.

John Carroll reliever Henry Darrow suffered the loss to fall to 2-1 on the year.

The Spartans will now turn their attention toward University Athletic Association play, beginning a stretch of 16 conference games in their next 19 contests with a four-game series in St. Louis at WashU. The Spartans and the Bears will begin their series with a single game on Friday, March 24 at 4:00 p.m. ET.