CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Washington University in St. Louis baseball team opened a four-game, University Athletic Association (UAA), series, Friday, April 26 against 15th-ranked Case Western Reserve University. The Spartans took the opener by a final score of 14-3. 

 

With the setback, WashU's record sits at 23-13-1 (7-5-1 UAA), while CWRU's record upped to 28-8 (11-2 UAA). 

 

Case Western Reserve outhit the Bears by a final tally of 17-10. 

 

Senior Clayton Miller and first year Carson Cleage each produced a 2-for-3 evening at the plate. Clayton Miller drove in a pair, while graduate student Evan Minarovic recorded one RBI. 

 

Junior Sebastion Guzman took the loss (3-2) on the bump for WashU. Guzman tossed 3.1 innings and struck out a pair. 

 

Case Western Reserve scored seven runs in the bottom of the first to open up the early 7-0 cushion. 

 

The Spartans added two in the third and five in the fourth to grab the 14-0 lead as the game progressed to the top of the fifth. 

 

The Bears got on the board in the top of the fifth. Clayton Miller drew a full count walk, then Cleage served a single to left center to set up first and third, with one down. Stepping into the box, Minarovic notched a sacrifice fly to center as Clayton Miller scampered home on the play. Heading to the bottom of the fifth, the Spartans held the 14-1 advantage. 

 

WashU tallied a pair of runs, on the three hits, in the top of the sixth. First year Miles Birke was hit by a pitch, first year Anthony Equale singled to center, then sophomore Shane Pellegrino also singled to center to load the bases, with one out. Following a fly out, Clayton Miller grabbed a single through the left side, which allowed Birke and Equale to cross the plate. With five and a half innings in the books, CWRU owned the 14-3 lead. 

 

CWRU's bullpen thwarted WashU's comeback efforts and took game one of the series by a final score of 14-3. 

 

The Bears are set to continue the weekend series against No. 15 Case Western Reserve with a double dip tomorrow, Saturday, April 27. Game times from Nobby's Ballpark are slated for 12 p.m. and 3 p.m. ET.