GREENCASTLE, Ind. – The tables were turned on Sunday as the Case Western Reserve University baseball team was swept in a doubleheader at No. 11 nationally-ranked DePauw University at Walker Field. The Spartans, who defeated DePauw twice yesterday, lost by scores of 5-1 and 4-2 this afternoon.
The Spartans drop to 25-14-1 overall heading into the final week of the regular season, while DePauw improves to 29-7.
In game one, the Spartans grabbed a quick 1-0 lead in the top of the first when senior designated hitter Bobby Marko (Lyndhurst, Ohio/Brush) led off with a single and came around to score on a double to left center. DePauw answered with two in its half of the inning with an RBI single by Rob McPike and a sacrifice fly from Alex Wright, then tacked on one run in the fifth and two more in the sixth. McPike provided the key hit with a two-run homer in the sixth.
On the mound, junior Jarrett Gish (Jupiter, Fla./Suncoast) fell to 6-2 for the season with his first loss since March 12. In six innings, the left-hander allowed five earned runs on 12 hits while striking out six and walking two. Hobs Donovan (3-0) picked up the win for DePauw with eight strikeouts in seven innings.
Offensively, the Spartans had just five hits with sophomore second baseman Andrew Frey (Mentor, Ohio/Mentor) going 1-for-2 with a walk. McPike was 3-for-4 with a homer and three RBI for the Tigers.
In game two, Case grabbed the lead early once again when senior catcher Peter Zak (Brookline, Mass./Brookline) belted a two-run homer to left. DePauw cut the lead in half in the bottom of the inning with a Ryan Allee RBI single then tied the game with a Zach Galyean RBI double in the fifth.
The hosts then took over with single runs in the seventh and eighth with RBI singles off the bats of Pat Lyons and Alex Berlyn.
Sophomore Josh Suvak (Independence, Ohio/Independence) made his first start of the season on the mound and pitched well in the loss. He allowed just two earned runs on eight hits with a pair of strikeouts in 6.2 innings. Andy Manson (6-1) got the victory for DePauw with seven effective innings, while Joe Wojda recorded the final three outs for his sixth save.
At the plate, sophomore outfielder Jordan Dague (Barberton, Ohio/Barberton) was 3-for-4 with a stolen base for the Spartans. Gaylean was 3-for-3 for DePauw.
All that remains on the schedule for Case is a single, nine-inning game at local-rival John Carroll University this Tuesday, April 24 at 4:00 p.m. and a doubleheader with the Blue Streaks next Sunday, April 29 at Nobby's Ballpark.
The Spartans will then await word on a potential second-consecutive at-large bid to the NCAA Regional Tournament.