The seventh-ranked Case Western Reserve University softball team split a pair of games against top teams on the second day of the NFCA Division III Leadoff Classic at the South Commons Complex in Columbus, Georgia, on Saturday. CWRU started the day with a 2-1 win over second-ranked Linfield before falling to 10th-ranked Trine 2-1 in a pitchers' duel.

The Spartans moved to 3-1 on the season following the split. The Wildcats dropped to 3-1, while the Thunder improved to 2-2.

#7 CWRU 2, #2 Linfield 1

The Wildcats threatened to score in the top of the first inning, putting runners on second and third with one out. The CWRU defense threw out a runner at home and then escaped a bases loaded threat with a pop out. In the bottom of the frame, the Spartans loaded the bases with one out but were unable to score.

Neither team had a runner reach second base until the fifth inning, when Linfield scored a run on a two-base error in the outfield. The Wildcats had runners on the corners with one out later in the frame, but a pair of popouts kept their lead at one.

In the bottom of the fifth, graduate student infielder KaiLi Gross laced a one-out double to left field. Sophomore infielder Karen Potts drove her in with a single up the middle, tying the score at one. Though Potts was able to reach third, she could not score the go-ahead run in the frame.

With the score still tied at one heading into the bottom of the seventh inning, first-year outfielder Kate Coonan led off with a single. After stealing second base, she advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt. Potts then ended the game with a walk-off single, driving in her second run of the game.

Potts collected two hits in three at-bats in the contest while adding a walk. Senior hurler Lexi Miskey received the start in the circle, allowing one unearned run on just one hit while striking out five in five innings. Senior pitcher Kylie Hosey (2-0) earned the win in relief, tossing two scoreless innings with three strikeouts and just one baserunner allowed.

#10 Trine 2, #7 CWRU 1

Hosey and Trine starting pitcher Alexis Michon matched each other over the first three innings as both pitchers faced the minimum nine batters to start the game. Michon retired the side in order in the fourth inning, but a Spartan error led to the first baserunner of the game to begin the bottom half of the frame. Trine capitalized when Tyra Marcum hit a two-run home run to left field to break the deadlock.

With one out in the fifth inning, CWRU junior infielder Elizabeth Berry broke up the perfect game and no-hitter with a single. However, she was stranded at first base.

Coonan doubled to lead off the sixth frame and scored on a groundout by Gross, making the score 2-1. The Spartans could not rally in the final inning, dropping their first game of the season.

Hosey (2-1) allowed just one earned run on two hits in five innings, recording two strikeouts. Miskey pitched a scoreless, hitless sixth inning, allowing a walk while earning a strikeout. Michon (1-1) threw a complete game, allowing two hits while striking out 10.

The Spartans will conclude their trip to Georgia on Sunday with two more games against top-ranked teams. CWRU takes on sixth-ranked Tufts at 9 a.m. before a matchup with fifth-ranked Belhaven at 11 a.m.

Spartan Notes

• Hosey has appeared in all four of the team's games this season, going 2-1 with a save in 14 innings while striking out 10 batters
• Berry leads the team with a .417 batting average (5-for-12) in the first four games of the season, hitting safely in all four contests
• First-year Lacey Lara made her first collegiate start against Trine, batting sixth as the designated player
• First-year Riley Williams made her collegiate debut against Linfield, recording one at-bat as a pinch hitter
• The game against Linfield was the first in the history of the CWRU softball program, while the Spartans dropped to 2-11 against the Thunder since 2012