WHITEWATER, Wis. – Senior pitcher Jamie Hora (Twinsburg, Ohio/Twinsburg) threw nine stellar innings, and sophomore catcher Robert Winemiller (Twinsburg, Ohio/University School) went 2-for-4 with a run batted-in as the Case Western Reserve University baseball team staged off elimination with a 3-1 victory versus The College of St. Scholastica (Minn.) in the NCAA Midwest Regional on Thursday afternoon at James B. Miller Stadium.
The fourth-seeded Spartans (28-13), who fell to No. 5 nationally-ranked University of Wisconsin-Whitewater yesterday, advance to play the top seed and No. 2-ranked University of St. Thomas (Minn.) on Friday afternoon at 3:00 p.m. (CDT).
The Saints (28-10), seeded sixth, upset St. Thomas (34-6) yesterday and will now play either Wisconsin-Whitewater or University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point tomorrow at noon.
Hora (6-2) scattered six hits while striking out two and not issuing a walk. The winningest pitcher in school history (24) improved to 2-0 all-time in NCAA Tournament play with his first complete game of the season.
After being shutout yesterday, the Spartans wasted little time in getting on the board with a run in the top of the first inning. Sophomore centerfielder William Meador (Columbus, Ohio/Worthington Kilbourne) led off with a walk, moved to third on a slicing double down the right field line by senior shortstop Matt Keen (Tallmadge, Ohio/Tallmadge), and scored on an RBI groundout by sophomore third baseman Andrew Gronski (Hilliard, Ohio/Hilliard Davidson).
The Saints threatened the lead with runners on the corners and two out in the second, but Hora induced a come-backer to the mound and retired the side.
Two frames later, the Spartans picked up their second run when Winemiller ripped an RBI double into the left center field gap to plate senior first baseman Brett Ossola (Potomac, Md./Bullis School).
Hora held St. Scholastica scoreless until the sixth when Kyle Flagstad doubled and came home two batters later on a fielder's choice by Parker Olson.
In the seventh, Case got the run back as Winemiller led off with a single, moved to third on a pair of groundouts, and reached home on a fielder's choice off the bat of Keen. The Saints threatened in the bottom of the inning thanks to a single and an error, but Hora got a groundball to third to preserve the two-run lead.
For St. Scholastica, Andy Davis (3-2) battled his way through 6.2 innings with three earned runs on four hits and four walks.
At the plate, Flagstad and Jake Casareto were each 2-for-4 for the Saints.
In addition to Winemiller's 2-for-4 effort for the Spartans, Meador and Ossola each drew two walks.