Case Western Reserve University sophomore Matt Levine pitched seven shutout innings, and sophomore left fielder Jake Ryan and junior centerfielder Samuel Neal each hit their first home runs of the season, as the Spartans defeated Oglethorpe University 9-0 in Atlanta, Georgia on Sunday afternoon.
The win was the third-straight for the Spartans, who improved to 3-3 overall, while Oglethorpe dropped to 5-10 on the year with the loss.
Levine, who picked up the win to improve to 1-0 on the year, faced the minimum through his first six innings of work, and held the Stormy Petrels scoreless on four hits over seven innings of work in the game, throwing just 74 pitches in the effort. He struck out three batters without issuing a walk, and lowered his season ERA to 1.33 through three appearances this year.
Ryan went three-for-five at the plate with three runs batted in, two runs scored and a home run. Senior third baseman Jacob Kucia added a two-for-two performance with a run and two RBIs, as the Spartans racked up 10 hits as a team in the game.
CWRU struck early in Sunday's game, scoring three runs in the first inning, all with two outs. Ryan plated the first run of the game with a base hit that scored senior second baseman Rocco Maue, and Kucia followed with a two-RBI single two batters later, scoring both Ryan and sophomore right fielder Benjamin Stawicki.
The Spartans extended their lead in the fourth on an opposite field solo home run by Neal that hit off the foul pole in left, a sacrifice fly by senior catcher Tyler Wypiszenski and a long two-run home run to left center by Ryan, giving the team a 7-0 lead. CWRU added a run in the fifth on a throwing error and one another in the seventh on a ground out, taking a nine-run advantage over Oglethorpe.
Freshman Keaton Stankowski made his debut, pitching a pair of hitless innings to close out the win for the Spartans, striking out a batter and walking one.
Starter Devlin Basinger took the loss for Oglethorpe, falling to 1-1 on the year.
The Spartans and the Stormy Petrels will conclude their two-game series tomorrow at 1:00 p.m.