The third-ranked Case Western Reserve University softball team split a doubleheader with the University of Mount Union on Sunday at 23rd Street Softball Field in Alliance, Ohio, winning the first game 11-0 in five innings but falling 4-3 in the second game in eight innings.

The Spartans move to 35-3 on the season, while the Purple Raiders move to 32-8. Case Western Reserve stretched its program record winning streak to 20 games with the win in the opener, though the streak was snapped with the loss in the nightcap.

Game 1: #3 CWRU 11, Mount Union 0 (5 inn.)

Junior infielder KaiLi Gross and junior outfielder Kela Jagoda led off the game with back-to-back walks. Following a sacrifice bunt, Gross scored on a sacrifice fly by senior outfielder Carli Tucci. Sophomore infielder Isabella Russo hit a two-out double to score Jagoda, making the score 2-0 before the hosts came up to bat.  

A triple by Gross, her seventh of the season, scored the third run of the game in the second inning. The seven triples in a single season are a new program record, besting the previous record of six set by Beth Andrasik in 2010 and Melanie Simpson in 1999.

The Spartans batted around in the third inning, scoring five runs to increase their lead to eight. Senior infielder Amanda Riely led off the frame with a single and back-to-back walks by Tucci and Russo loaded the bases with no outs. Junior infielder Kaila Nutter drove in Riely and Tucci with a single to left field, and first-year infielder Elizabeth Berry followed with a two-run single of her own. Gross drove in the final run of the inning with a single, her team-leading 30th run batted in of the season.  

Riely completed the scoring in the fifth inning with a three-run home run, her third of the season and the sixth of her career.

Sophomore pitcher Lexi Miskey gave up her first hit of the day in the bottom of the fourth inning, a one-out double. However, she struck out the next two batters swinging to end her day in the circle. Miskey improved to 22-0 on the season, tying the program record for wins in a single season set by Sidney Brannam in 2021. She pitched four innings, allowing just one hit while striking out five. Junior pitcher Jenna Jaklich completed the shutout, the TK of the season for CWRU, with a perfect fifth inning.

Gross, Nutter, and Berry each drove in two runs, with Gross and Riely collecting a pair of hits for the Spartans.

Game 2: Mount Union 4, #3 CWRU 3 (8 inn.)

CWRU scored three runs in the first inning of the second game, taking advantage of a Purple Raider error in the process. After Jagoda reached on an error and Riely singled, a double by Tucci put the Spartans on the board. Tucci and Riely then both scored on a single by Russo to make the score 3-0.

Mount Union responded in the bottom of the second with a pair of runs scoring on a bases-loaded walk and an infield single. The Purple Raiders tied the score at three in the third inning with a one-out triple followed by a single.

Sophomore pitcher Kylie Hosey started the game in the circle and did not factor into the decision, allowing three runs on seven hits and two walks in two and a third innings. Miskey completed the third inning with a pair of strikeouts.

Neither team scored for the remainder of the regulation seven innings. CWRU was unable to score the automatic runner in the eighth inning, and Mount Union's Lydia Brunner hit a two-out walk-off single to end the contest.

Miskey (22-1) took the loss, her first of the season, allowing one unearned run in five and a third innings of relief work, striking out eight and walking two. Russo drove in a run for the sixth straight game, collecting two RBIs on a hit.

The Spartans will end the regular season with a doubleheader at the University of Chicago on Saturday. First pitch of the first game is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET. CWRU, which clinched its second straight trip to the NCAA Championship by winning the University Athletic Association, will learn its regional site and opponents during the NCAA Selection Show on Monday, May 15 at 1 p.m.