Behind home runs from graduate student first baseman Dane Camphausen and graduate student second baseman Franco Alonso and a solid start from senior southpaw Reese Marley, the seventh-ranked Case Western Reserve University baseball team opened NCAA postseason play with a 7-4 win over Alvernia University on Friday afternoon at Nobby's Ballpark in Cleveland, Ohio.

The Spartans, who improved to 32-9 overall, will advance to the winner's bracket at the Cleveland Region at Nobby's Ballpark, which is hosting its first-ever NCAA tournament games. CWRU will face the winner of Friday's game between Lynchburg and Ithaca on Saturday at noon.

Alvernia, which now stands at 28-17, will take on the loser of the Lynchburg-Ithaca matchup at 8:30 AM on Saturday.

The Spartans took the lead in the bottom of the first with three two-out runs, going in front 1-0 on an RBI single by junior right fielder Nick Harms and taking a three-run advantage on a two-run home run by Camphausen, his program-record 13th of the season. Alonso led off the second inning with a solo home run, his fifth of the campaign, extending CWRU's lead to 4-0, and went ahead 5-0 on an RBI double by senior designated hitter Zack Carinci. In the bottom of the fourth, an RBI double by graduate student third baseman James Powers and a run-scoring groundout by Camphausen put CWRU in front 7-0.

Meanwhile, Marley held the Golden Wolves scoreless through the first four innings before allowing a pair to cross the plate in the top of the fifth. He went on to pitch into the seventh, finishing the day with three runs allowed on six hits and five walks with six strikeouts, increasing his program-record total to 216 for his career.

Junior Jackson Brewer entered the game with a runner on base and nobody out in the seventh and pitched the final three innings of the game, allowing one run on two hits and a walk to secure his third save of the year.

Marley earned the win to raise his record to 6-2 for the season. The victory was the 20th of his career, as he became just the fourth pitcher in program history with 20 or more victories over a career.

Alvernia starter Chris Sasso allowed five runs in three innings to suffer the loss, dropping to 6-4 for the season.

More information on tomorrow's games, including links for the live video and stats, are available on the tournament website at https://athletics.case.edu/sports/2024/5/9/2024-ncaa-diii-baseball-championship-regional-round.aspx.