In a pair of thrilling games that each came down to the seventh inning, the second-ranked Case Western Reserve University softball team split a doubleheader against Claremont-Mudd-Scripps on Sunday afternoon, winning the first game 5-4 before losing by an identical score in the second contest.

CWRU moved to 6-2 for the season with the split, while Claremont-Mudd-Scripps now stands at 7-2.

Game 1 - CWRU 5, CMS 4
A pair of unearned runs in the top of the seventh inning pushed the Spartans past the Athenas in the first game on Sunday's doubleheader.

CWRU trailed 4-3 heading into its final at-bat. With one out, sophomore Karen Potts grounded out to short. However, she was placed on first after the Spartans challenged the play due to the Athenas' shortstop not having been re-entered into the game properly after she was pinch ran for earlier. The next batter, senior Isabella Russo, hit a ground ball back to the pitcher that was thrown away, allowing Potts to score the game-tying run from first. Two batters later, another error by the Athenas allowed Russo to score the go-ahead run with two outs, giving CWRU a 5-4 lead.

Claremont-Mudd-Scripps was able to get runners at second and third with two outs in the bottom of the seventh, but senior Lexi Miskey struck out Kaili Aqui to end the game and give the Spartans the win.

The first game was a pitchers' duel early, but the Athenas broke through in the bottom of the third with a two-out, two-run single against CWRU senior starter Kylie Hosey to take a 2-0 lead. The Spartans responded with a two-out rally in the top of the fourth to tie the game. Senior Katelyn Lamm drew a two-out walk and sophomore Kaelyn Zusi followed with a double to put runners at second and third. First-year Lacey Lara then delivered a pinch-hit single to right, driving in both runners and tying the game at 2-2.

The Athenas answered quickly, scoring single runs in the bottom of the fourth and fifth innings, taking a 4-2 lead. CWRU cut the advantage in half in the sixth, scoring a run on a two-out RBI single by first-year Kate Coonan, setting up the thrilling finish to the game in the seventh.

Miskey earned the win in relief, improving to 4-0 after allowing just two runs (one earned) on three hits and three walks with seven strikeouts over four and a third innings. Claremont-Mudd-Scripps' Maya Weigel-Murphy suffered the complete-game loss, dropping to 0-2 on the season.

Zusi collected two of the Spartans' hits in the game, finishing two-for-four with the double and a run scored. Potts, junior Elizabeth Berry, Lara, Coonan, and sophomore Nylah Durham each had hits in the game as well.

Game 2 - CMS 5, CWRU 4
CWRU jumped out to a third-inning lead in the second game of the day on Sunday, but Claremont-Mudd-Scripps scored three unanswered runs over the final three innings and claimed a 5-4 walk-off win over the Spartans to cap off the doubleheader.

CWRU grabbed the lead with three runs in the top of the third. With the bases loaded and nobody out, Russo and Lamm each drove in a run with a fielder's choice to put the Spartans ahead 2-0. Lara added a bases-loaded two-out walk later in the inning to extend the Spartans' lead to 3-0.

The Athenas scored two runs in the bottom of the inning, but the Spartans pushed their lead back to two runs with a sacrifice fly from Potts in the top of the fourth. However, Claremont-Mudd-Scripps scored a run in the fifth and tied the game at 4-4 with another run in the sixth. After CWRU went down in order in the top of the seventh, a walk and a hit batter put the game-winning run into scoring position with nobody out for the Athenas. The next batter singled into right field and the ensuing throw home skipped past the catcher, allowing the game-winning run to score from third.

Miskey and Hosey combined to not allow an earned run in the game. Miskey pitched the first four innings, giving up a pair of runs on three hits and two walks with two strikeouts, while Hosey pitched the final two and a third innings, allowing three runs on three hits and two walks. Hosey suffered the loss in the game, falling to 2-2 on the season.

Graduate student KaiLi Gross led the Spartans at the plate, going three-for-four with two triples, two runs, and a stolen base.

CWRU will be back in action on Monday with two more games at Claremont-Mudd-Scripps, facing Bethel at 2:00 p.m. ET and Illinois Wesleyan at 4:00 p.m. ET.

Spartan Notes

• With her two triples in the second game, Gross set a new program record with 14 career triples, surpassing the previous mark of 13 set by former Spartan Molly O'Brien. Gross now has 206 career hits, placing her 12 away from O'Brien's CWRU career record. She is also one RBI shy of the program record of 136, currently held by Gena Roberts (2012-15).

• Sunday's games were the first ever between the Spartans and the Athenas.

• Miskey pitched a combined 8.1 innings over the two games, allowing just one earned run on six hits and five walks with nine strikeouts.

• Lara's game-tying two-run single in the fourth inning was the first hit of her career.