The 10th-ranked Case Western Reserve University softball team scored 14 runs for the second consecutive game, defeating Brandeis University 14-1 in five innings in the third game of a four-game series at Marcus Field in Waltham, Massachusetts, on Saturday afternoon.
With the win, the Spartans improved to 27-5 on the season and 12-3 in University Athletic Association contests. CWRU increased its lead over second place WashU (10-4) to one and a half games after the Bears split a doubleheader with third place Carnegie Mellon (8-6). The Judges fell to 13-17 overall and 5-10 in the UAA.
Senior KaiLi Gross drove in five runs on three hits, including two doubles and a triple, to match a career high. Senior Jordon Manworren equaled a career best with three runs batted in on two hits, and senior Stevie Rieger drove in a pair of runs. Junior Isabella Russo had two hits, her sixth multi-hit game of the season, and first-year Nylah Durham had her first career two-hit game.
CWRU started the game with back-to-back doubles, opening a 1-0 advantage just two batters into the contest. First-year Karen Potts doubled to lead off the game and Gross followed with a two-bagger to drive her in. Two batters later, Russo drove in Gross with a single to make the score 2-0.
Consecutive singles by junior Katelyn Lamm and Durham put two runners on base to start the second inning. After a sacrifice bunt and walk loaded the bases, Gross drove in her second run of the day with a sacrifice fly. Rieger sent two runners home with a double to increase the lead to five.
Russo doubled to lead off the third inning, scoring on a one-out single by Manworren. With two outs and the bases loaded, Gross sent three runners across the plate with her first triple of the season to make the score 9-0.
In the bottom half of the frame, Bells Burdenski hit a solo home run for the Judges to prevent the shutout.
Sophomore Tara Fritscher helped the Spartans regain their nine-run lead, delivering a pinch-hit run-scoring single in the next inning. It was her first hit and first RBI of the season. Manworren drove in two more runs with a double, and Durham followed with a run-scoring single to increase the lead to 12.
Sophomore Elizabeth Berry drove in the 14th run of the game with a sacrifice fly in the fifth inning.
After allowing a leadoff double in the first inning, junior pitcher Lexi Miskey retired the next six batters she faced, including three by strikeout. With the game out of hand early, she threw two shutout innings, allowing one hit while striking out three. Sophomore Devanghi Misra (1-1) earned her first career win in relief, allowing one run on two hits with two strikeouts in two innings. Senior Jenna Jaklich struck out two batters in a scoreless final frame.
The Spartans and Judges will conclude their four-game series with a single game tomorrow, scheduled to begin at 11 a.m.
