CLEVELAND – Freshman outfielder Zach Tobias (Pittsburgh, Pa./Upper St. Clair) ripped a game-winning single up the middle in the bottom of the ninth during game one as the Case Western Reserve University baseball team split a doubleheader with visiting Baldwin Wallace University on Tuesday afternoon at Nobby's Ballpark. The hosts took game one in exciting fashion by a 7-6 score, while the Yellow Jackets grabbed the nightcap, 9-5.
With the split, both teams move to 25-12. The Spartans hit the road for the final time this spring with a Saturday, May 4 doubleheader versus No. 9 Marietta College. First pitch of the key regional twinbill at Don Schaly Stadium is scheduled for 12:00 p.m.
In game one, the Yellow Jackets scored first in the top of the second when Alex Green led off with a single then came around to score two batters later on a double down the right field line by Zach Ferster. The visitors threatened to add to their advantage in the sixth with a leadoff double by Brendan Toughey, but senior pitcher Jarrett Gish (Jupiter, Fla./Suncoast) fielded a bunt from the following batter and threw Toughey out trying to advance to third.
In the bottom of the frame, BW starter Jon Capadona retired the first two batters quickly before sophomore centerfielder William Meador (Columbus, Ohio/Worthington Kilbourne) reached via a single through the left side of the infield. One batter later, senior shortstop Matt Keen (Tallmadge, Ohio/Tallmadge) ripped the first pitch he saw to the gap in left center for an RBI double.
The Yellow Jackets responded in the top of the seventh with a run as Mark Zimmerman was hit by a pitch, moved two bases on a sacrifice bunt and a groundout, then scored on a two-out infield single by Chaz McGrain.
In the bottom of the frame, the Spartans exploded for five runs on five hits and a Yellow Jacket error. Sophomore catcher Robert Winemiller (Twinsburg, Ohio/University School) had a sacrifice fly, Meador ripped a two-run single up the middle, and sophomore first baseman Andrew Gronski (Hilliard, Ohio/Hilliard Davidson) and senior second baseman Paul Pakan (Tallmadge, Ohio/Tallmadge) each hit RBI singles.
Not done yet, the visitors scored a pair of runs in both the top of the eighth and ninth innings to tie the score at 6-6.
In the bottom of the ninth, Keen started things off with a single down the left field line and advanced to second via a Gronski walk. One batter later, Tobias ripped a 2-0 pitch up the middle to plate the winning run.
For the game, Keen tied a career high with four hits as part of a 4-for-5 performance with an RBI and a pair of runs scored, while Meador went 2-for-5 with a pair of runs.
Gish allowed two earned runs in 6.2 innings while striking out four and walking two. Gish still maintains a 3-0 mark, 0.91 earned run average and 23 strikeouts in his last 29.2 innings.
Junior lefty John Fortunato (Toledo, Ohio/St. Francis de Sales) was credited with the win after recording the final out and improved to 5-1. Dylan Fodor took the loss for BW going 1.1 innings and allowing one run on one hit.
In the nightcap, BW got on the board first in the top of the second with a pair of runs and a single tally in the third. The first tally came on a wild pitch followed by a run-scoring single from John Taylor in the second, while Joe Hiller homered to left in the third.
Undaunted, the Spartans cut the Yellow Jacket advantage to one with a pair of unearned runs. Keen laced a one-out single and scored on a single through the left side by Pakan. One batter later, senior first baseman Brett Ossola (Potomac, Md./Bullis School) ripped an opposite field single through the right side scoring Gronski who followed Keen with a base hit.
An inning later, BW pushed its lead back to two and took advantage of a Spartan error as Brad Gugliotta touched home plate after a leadoff single.
The score remained that way until the top of the eighth when the Yellow Jackets took advantage of a pair of Spartan errors to plate two runs on just one hit.
At the plate, Meador, Keen, Gronski and sophomore left fielder Kerrigan Cain (Hartville, Ohio/Archbishop Hoban) were all 2-for-5 as the Spartans collected 14 hits at a team.
On the mound, senior "southpaw" Jamie Hora (Twinsburg, Ohio/Twinsburg) went the first three innings and surrendered three runs on seven hits with three strikeouts and three walks. Sophomore righty Kevin Johnstone (Placentia, Calif./Valencia) went the next four giving up just one unearned run on five hits punching out three, while Fortunato went the final two frames surrendering five unearned runs on just two hits.
For BW, Anthony Alioto Jr. went 8.1 innings giving up five runs, three earned, on 12 hits with four strikeouts and one walk. Brandon Chicocki recorded the final two outs with just one pitch on a double play.