Case Western Reserve University graduate student KaiLi Gross became the program's career leader in runs batted in on Monday, surpassing the mark in the first inning of the second-ranked Spartans' 6-3 win over Bethel University in the team's first game of the day in Claremont, California. The Spartans went on to suffer a 4-2 setback to Illinois Wesleyan University in the second contest.

CWRU stands at 7-3 in 2025 following the split on Monday.

Gross, who went a combined four-for-seven with two doubles, a home run, three RBIs, and three runs, broke former Spartan Gena Roberts' record of 136 career RBIs, which had stood since the 2015 campaign.

Game 1: CWRU 6, Bethel 3

Gross drove in three runs in the first game of the day, including two on a two-out go-ahead double in the top of the sixth, to lift the Spartans to a 6-3 win over the Royals.

The Spartans struck for three runs in the top of the first inning of the game, including a leadoff home run off Gross' bat to set the new program career RBI record. Sophomore Karen Potts and senior Isabella Russo each followed with singles and came around to score later in the inning, putting the Spartans ahead 3-0 after half a frame.

Meanwhile, senior Lexi Miskey allowed just one base runner over the first three innings and held Bethel without a hit until the bottom of the fourth, when she yielded a leadoff triple that eventually led to the first run of the game for the Royals. Bethel added two more runs in the bottom of the fifth, tying the game at 3-3.

CWRU had a response in the top of the sixth, as sophomore Kaelyn Zusi reached on a walk to start the frame, and an error put two runners on with nobody out. However, a sacrifice bunt and a flyout kept the runners on the basepaths with two outs and Gross at the plate. She proceeded to deliver a double that plated sophomore Alaina Steffes and first-year Lacey Lara, giving CWRU a 5-3 lead. Gross later scored on a wild pitch to put the Spartans ahead by three runs after five and a half innings.

Senior Kylie Hosey entered to pitch the final two innings, retiring the side in order in the sixth and working around a one-out double in the seventh to lock down her third save of the campaign.

The Spartans were paced offensively by the top three hitters in their order, who combined to collect all seven of the team's hits in the game. Gross went two-for-three with two runs, three RBIs, a double, and a home run, Potts ended the game two-for-three with a run and a walk, and Russo was three-for-three with a run, a walk, and a stolen base.

Miskey earned the win, improving to 5-0 after allowing three runs on three hits and three walks with five strikeouts over five innings. Bethel's Dominique Walicke suffered the loss for the Royals, dropping to 3-1 on the season.

Bethel fell to 4-4 with the loss.

Game 2: Illinois Wesleyan 4, CWRU 2

The Spartans' offense struggled to generate runs against the Titans in the second game of the day, falling 4-2 to Illinois Wesleyan.

The Spartans jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning after Gross doubled and later came around to score on an RBI groundout by Russo. The one-run lead held until the top of the third when Illinois Wesleyan scored twice to take the lead. In the bottom of the inning, sophomore Nylah Durham singled with one out, stole second, moved to third on a ground out, and scored on a two-out single by Potts to tie the game. After a scoreless fourth inning, the Titans regained the lead on a two-run double by Jen Kuhn, going ahead 4-2.

CWRU brought the tying run to the plate in each of the last three innings, but could not find the equalizer en route to the loss.

Illinois Wesleyan improved to 3-2 with the win.

Gross went two-for-four with a double and a run while Potts and Russo each had a single and an RBI in the game.

Hosey suffered the complete-game loss in the contest, dropping to 2-3 after allowing four runs on eight hits and two walks with three strikeouts. Gianna Certa improved to 1-0 with the win for Illinois Wesleyan.

The Spartans will be off on Tuesday as they travel to Redlands, California for a doubleheader against the 10th-ranked University Redlands on Wednesday starting at 3:00 p.m. ET.

Spartan Notes

• Monday's games were the first meetings in program history against Bethel and Illinois Wesleyan.

• Gross now has 210 career hits, placing her eight away from Molly O'Brien's (2012-15) CWRU career record.

• Junior Elizabeth Berry saw her eight-game hitting streak (the longest this season by a Spartan) come to a close in the first game of the doubleheader.