SANFORD, Fla. – Sophomore rightfielder Andrew Gronski (Hilliard, Ohio/Hilliard Davidson) and senior centerfielder Paul Pakan (Tallmadge, Ohio/Tallmadge) were each 2-for-4 at the plate, but a three-run fifth inning was the undoing as the Case Western Reserve University baseball team lost its final game of the 2013 University Athletic Association Championship by a score of 6-2 to Emory University (Ga.) at Sanford Memorial Stadium.
With the loss, the Spartans (7-4, 5-3 UAA) fall one-half game behind Washington University-St. Louis in the league standings. Washington U. will square off with the University of Rochester (N.Y.) on Sunday at 10:00 a.m. A win versus the Yellowjackets would give the Bears an outright championship, but a loss would give the Spartans a share of the crown.
Emory got on the board first in the second inning on an RBI single from Ben Vizvary. Pakan threw out a potential second run with sophomore catcher Robert Winemiller (Twinsburg, Ohio/University) on the receiving end at home plate to end the threat.
The score remained that way until the top half of the fourth. Spartan senior shortstop Matt Keen (Tallmadge, Ohio/Tallmadge) led off with a single through the left side, advanced to second on a base hit from Gronski, and came around to score on a ground-rule double off the bat of Pakan. With runners at second and third, senior first baseman Brett Ossola (Potomac, Md./Bullis School) gave Case a one-run lead via a sacrifice fly.
With Case clinging to a 2-1 lead, the Eagles loaded the bases in the bottom of the fifth and proceeded to take a 4-2 lead on a three-run triple courtesy of Jared Welch off of Spartan junior John Fortunato (Toledo, Ohio/St. Francis de Sales). Sophomore righty Daniel Sondag (Cary, N.C./Green Hope) replaced Fortunato and worked out of the jam to keep the deficit at just a pair.
Not done yet, Emory tacked on two more runs in the seventh when Wes Peacock doubled to left and scored on a wild pitch, while Welch drew a one-out walk and scored on a double to right center by Daniel Iturrey.
Sophomore starter Kevin Johnstone (Placentia, Calif./Valencia) pitched the first four innings and allowed just one run on three hits with three walks and a strikeout. Fortunato was saddled with the loss and falls to 1-1 this season.
On the mound for Emory, Connor Dillman (1-2) was impressive, allowing just two runs on five Spartan hits with four strikeouts and a pair of walks. Graham Bloomsmith recorded the final three outs.
Welch was 2-for-2 for Emory with three RBI, two runs scored and a pair of walks, while Daniel Iturrey was also 2-for-2 with two base on balls.
The Spartans return to the diamond and open their northern schedule