SANFORD, Fla. – The Case Western Reserve University baseball team whittled an early five-run Emory University (Ga.) lead down to just one, but a four-run ninth inning foiled the Spartans' hopes of a comeback in a 9-4 loss on day two of the 2012 University Athletic Association Championship at Sanford Memorial Stadium.
The Spartans fall to 7-3 overall and 1-1 in the UAA, while defending conference champion Emory improves to 9-6 overall and 2-0 in the Association.
Emory jumped out to a 5-0 advantage after plating a pair of runs in the first inning and three more in third.
In the home half of the fourth, Case cut the Eagle advantage to three with a pair of runs. Senior designated hitter Sam Alexander (Alexandria, Va./T.C.Williams) laced a one-out single to left field that was followed by a double off the bat of junior first baseman Brett Ossola (Potomac, Md./Bullis School). Senior catcher Peter Zak (Brookline, Mass./Brookline) loaded the bases with a walk. A passed ball then scored Alexander before sophomore outfielder Jordan Dague (Barberton, Ohio/Barberton) manufactured a run with a sacrifice fly to left that plated Ossola.
Not done yet, the Spartans retired Emory in the top of the fifth and carried that momentum into the bottom of the frame. Junior shortstop Matt Keen (Tallmadge, Ohio/Tallmadge) got aboard via an infield single and came around to score on junior centerfielder Paul Pakan's second homerun of the spring, slicing the Eagle lead to just one, at 5-4.
However, the Eagles put the game out of reach in the top of the ninth, scoring four runs aided by a Case error.
For the game, Alexander was 2-for-4, raising his season average to .351.
On the mound, Spartan junior lefthander Jarrett Gish (Jupiter, Fla./Suncoast) suffered the loss and falls to 1-1 after lasting just 2.2 innings. Senior lefty A.J. Boshinski (Alpharetta, Ga./St. Pius X) came on in relief and logged the next seven outs not allowing a hit or run while striking out three and issuing just one walk.
Sophomore Josh Suvak (Independence, Ohio/Independence) threw two innings of shutout work before freshman righthander Edward Abramson (Maitland, Fla./Winter Park) was perfect in the eighth. A pair of sophomores in righthander Jose Vega (Strongsville, Ohio/Padua Franciscan) and lefthander Ray Kelly (Rochester, N.Y./Aquinas Institute) worked the ninth.
Case will look to get back on the winning track when it takes on Washington University-St. Louis (Mo.) tomorrow during day three of the UAA Championship. First pitch is scheduled for 11:00 a.m.