The seventh-ranked Case Western Reserve University softball team used a three-run sixth inning to come from behind and defeat New York University 6-5 on Saturday evening at Mather Park in Cleveland.

With the win, the Spartans improved to 18-2 on the season and 3-0 in University Athletic Association play. CWRU extended its season-long winning streak to 10 games. The Violets fell to 5-12 on the season and 0-3 in the UAA.

With Case Western Reserve trailing 5-3 heading into the bottom of the sixth inning, the Spartans loaded the bases with one out on a single and two walks. Following a force out at home, senior KaiLi Gross hit a grounder to the second baseman. The Violet fielder could not handle the ball, allowing one run to score, and a throwing error let the tying and go-ahead runs cross the plate, giving CWRU a 6-5 lead.

Junior pitcher Kylie Hosey, who earned the win in relief to improve to 8-0 on the season, worked around a one-out walk in the seventh inning to secure the victory. Hosey allowed one run, one hit, and one walk in two innings of work.

Offensively, senior Stevie Rieger and junior Katelyn Lamm each had two hits, the sixth multi-hit game of the season for the senior and the third for the junior. Lamm also drove in a run. Senior Savannah Gazda collected two runs batted in, her first career game with multiple runs driven in, and first-year Alaina Steffes drew two walks for the first time in her career, scoring once. 

The Violets took an early lead in the contest, the third of a four-game series between the two teams, plating a run with two outs in the top of the first inning.

Rieger led off the bottom of the second inning with a single and quickly moved to second with a stolen base. After walks by Steffes and junior Isabella Russo loaded the bases, a groundout by Lamm tied the score at one. Gazda then delivered a two-out pinch-hit single to drive in a pair of runs and give CWRU a 3-1 lead.

NYU responded in the top of the third inning, taking advantage of two Spartan miscues to tie the score at three.

After two scoreless stanzas, the Violets took a 5-3 lead on a home run by Madi Hand in the top of the sixth inning, setting up the dramatic bottom half of the frame.

Earlier in the contest, Gross extended her hitting streak to a career-high 13 games with a leadoff single. First-year Karen Potts did not officially reach base in the contest, ending her career-starting 19 game on-base streak. She did, however, score the winning run after a fielder's choice in the sixth inning.

Jessie Werthman (1-3) took the tough-luck loss in relief for the Violets, allowing three unearned runs on three hits and two walks in one and one-third innings.

CWRU and NYU will conclude their four-game set on Sunday at Mather Park with the first pitch scheduled for 11 a.m.