SANFORD, Fla. – Senior shortstop Matt Keen (Tallmadge, Ohio/Tallmadge) homered twice and set the school career record for runs as the Case Western Reserve University baseball team split a pair of games with Brandeis University (Mass.) and Washington University-St. Louis on day two of the 2013 University Athletic Association Championship at Sanford Memorial Stadium. The Spartans lost to the Judges, 4-1 in 10 innings, to open the day but bounced back to beat the Bears, 13-3 in seven innings.
The Spartans (5-2, 3-1 UAA), in the midst of eight games in seven days in the Sunshine State, return to action with a single game versus the University of Rochester (N.Y.) tomorrow evening at 5:00 p.m. Through three days, the Spartans sit atop the conference standings, while Brandeis and Washington U. are each 2-1.
Keen was a combined 3-for-7 on the day with the two homers, three RBI and four runs scored. The senior captain now has 162 runs for his career, passing Chad Mullins' (2008-11) total of 160 for the most in program history.
Versus Brandeis (4-5, 2-1 UAA), sophomore right-hander Kevin Johnstone (Placentia, Calif./Valencia) started and logged a career-high 8.2 innings in a no decision. The second-year Spartan allowed just one earned run on three hits and three walks with three strikeouts. Johnstone sits at 0-1 for the season despite surrendering just two earned runs in 15.2 innings of work.
Brandeis scored what looked to be the only run of the game when Tom McCarthy hit a solo homerun to right field in the top of the fourth. Judge starter Dylan Britton (1-0) outdueled Johnstone for most of the game, holding the Spartans scoreless until the ninth.
However, sophomore catcher Robert Winemiller (Twinsburg, Ohio/University School) led off the final frame with a single, moved to second on a fielder's choice, advanced to third on a single by sophomore designated hitter William Meador (Worthington, Ohio/Worthington Kilbourne), and scored the tying run on a sacrifice fly by freshman third baseman Mike Ilacqua (Mayfield Village, Ohio/University School).
In extra innings, the Judges wasted little time in regaining the lead with three runs on four hits in the top of the 10th. Brian Ing hit a sac fly to plate the first run, and Pat Seaward drove in the next two with a single.
Sophomore righty Jose Vega (Strongsville, Ohio/Padua Franciscan) recorded the final out in the ninth but loaded the bases in the 10th before junior Sammy Altman (Atlanta, Ga./Riverwood International Charter School) came out of the bullpen. All three runs in the 10th were charged to Vega, who fell to 0-2 for the season.
The Spartans threatened to answer in the bottom of the inning with the bases loaded and no out, but an infield fly, a fielder's choice to score a run, and a fly out followed ending the game.
Britton ended up pitching nine-plus innings and allowing two earned runs on eight hits with two walks and no strikeouts. Craig Rothenberg recorded the final three outs for his first save of the spring.
For the game, Winemiller and senior centerfielder Paul Pakan (Tallmadge, Ohio/Tallmadge) were each 2-for-3. McCarthy was 3-for-4 for Brandeis.
Versus Washington U. (6-4, 2-1 UAA), the Spartan bats awoke for three runs on five hits in the opening frame. Keen hit a solo homer to left, while two batters later, Pakan crushed a two-run shot to left.
The Bears came right back and tied the score in the bottom of the inning as Zack Kessinger and Andrew Goldstick each hit RBI singles. Both starting pitchers then settled down and the game went scoreless until Keen his second long-ball of the game to make the score 4-3 in the fourth.
In the fifth, the Spartans opened the game up with five runs on two hits and four walks. Keen was hit by a pitch to force home a run, as did sophomore outfielder Andrew Gronski (Hilliard, Ohio/Hilliard Davidson) with a walk before senior first baseman Brett Ossola (Potomac, Md./Bullis School) hit a two-run single.
Two innings later, the Spartans invoked the UAA "mercy rule" with four runs on just one hit and one error. Junior second baseman Andrew Frey (Mentor, Ohio/Mentor) provided the key hit in the inning with a two-run single.
On the mound, junior lefty John Fortunato (Toledo, Ohio/St. Francis de Sales) settled in after a rocky first and threw a career-best seven innings and his first career complete game, allowing three earned runs on seven hits and no walks with a pair of strikeouts.
Ossola finished the game 3-for-5 with three RBI. Keen was 2-for-3 with his first career multi-homer game, three RBI and four runs scored. Pakan also capped a solid day at the plate with a 2-for-4, two RBI and two-run performance.
For the Bears, Kessinger and Andrew Dwoskin were each 2-for-3. Taylor Berman was saddled with the loss after allowing seven earned runs on 12 hits in 4.1 innings.