MEADVILLE, Pa. – Junior left-hander Jarrett Gish (Jupiter, Fla./Suncoast) threw eight shutout innings in game two to extend his career-long scoreless streak and senior outfielder Sam Alexander (Alexandria, Va./T.C. Williams) hit the winning three-run homer in the eighth inning as the Case Western Reserve University baseball team split a doubleheader at Allegheny College on Sunday afternoon at Robertson Field. The Spartans were blanked in the opener, 5-0, but rebounded to win game two, 3-2.
With the split, the Spartans move to 16-10, while the Gators sit at 5-15.
The Gators recorded all the offense they would need in the opener during the first inning with five runs off Spartan senior right hander Bradley Potter (Rochester, N.Y./Gates-Chili), who lasted just two-thirds of an inning. Sophomore lefty Ray Kelly (Rochester, N.Y./Aquinas Institute) came on in relief and threw 5.1 shutouts innings on just three hits with one walk and two strikeouts.
Offensively, the Spartans were limited to just a single from junior shortstop Matt Keen (Tallmadge, Ohio/Tallmadge) as Gator starter Eric Brandt went all seven innings with two strikeouts and three walks.
In the second game, Alexander broke a scoreless tie when he blasted a three-run homerun in the top of the eighth to score Keen and junior centerfielder Paul Pakan (Tallmadge, Ohio/Tallmadge). Keen reached on an error and Pakan collected a single in the inning.
On the mound, Gish was outstanding for the second time this week and improved to 4-1 this spring. Gish threw eight shutout innings allowing just six hits while striking out four and not walking a batter. Gish hasn't allowed a run in three-consecutive outings spanning 20 innings. During that stretch, he has collected 19 strikeouts. In addition, the southpaw has thrown 24.2 consecutive scoreless frames dating back to March 15.
Sophomore closer Jose Vega (Strongsville, Ohio/Padua Franciscan) came on in relief in the ninth for his eighth save of the season. He surrendered two runs on an Aaron Lynch single, but was able to induce a pop-up and a ground-out to seal the victory. Vega already owns the school record for saves in a career (11) and he continues to add to his single-season record this spring.
The Spartans will next be in action on Tuesday, April 3 when Denison University is at Nobby's Ballpark in Cleveland for a single, nine-inning game beginning at 4:00 p.m.