CLEVELAND, Ohio – Sophomore Ryan Kramer delivered again in the ninth inning, however, the first baseman's rally-sparker ultimately came up short, as Case Western Reserve University took Sunday's game from The College of Wooster baseball team 9-5 at Nobby's Ballpark.
Kramer, who put Wooster (4-3) ahead with a ninth-inning grand slam on Feb. 24, led off Sunday's ninth inning with an infield single. Kramer scored when sophomore catcher Colin Leslie laced a double to right center. Wooster was within four on first-year designated hitter Zack Barienbrock's single through the right side, but CWRU (5-2) closer Tyler Horvath promptly recorded the final two outs.
Wooster was unable to capitalize on seven walks and two hit batters, as CWRU held the Scots to five hits over the first eight innings. Senior shortstop Eli Westrick's one-out single to left was one of the five, and that scored sophomore centerfielder John Panstares for Wooster's first run in the fourth inning. Panstares placed a one-out single into left field and swiped Wooster's 16th base of the season to move into scoring position. The Scots' next two runs came in the seventh inning when junior third baseman Nick Pett and Barienbrock drew bases-loaded walk.
The Spartans seized control with an explosive third inning. Nick Harms belted a two-run homer to left center, Franco Alonso knocked in Dane Camphausen with a triple up the alley in right, and Tyler Stillson made it 5-0 with a two-run round-tripper to left field.
Leslie, who logged a second-career three hit-by-pitch game on Saturday, was plunked twice more on Sunday, and reached base safely four times in the game. Pett had two walks.
Sophomore Jack Spring (0-1) started strong by striking out the side in the first inning. The defense behind Wooster's right-hander erased a second-inning leadoff single, as Westrick started the 6-4-3 double play. A double play was again Wooster's best friend, this time in the seventh, when junior right-hander Alex Gerdenich got Andreyko to ground out to Westrick for an inning-ending double play.
Spring allowed five runs on seven hits in 2 2/3 innings. Sophomore Sammy De Maio and first-year Constantine Vernadakis combined to allow two runs on five hits in 3 2/3 innings of relief.
Alonso led CWRU with three hits, while Harms, Stillson, and Nate Arterburn knocked in two runs each. Archer Stankowski moved to 2-0 after allowing one run on three hits in six innings. Horvath picked up his first save.
Next, Wooster heads to Florida for five games, starting with a March 11 doubleheader against Marywood University (1-1) at the Lawnwood Complex in Ft. Pierce.