CLEVELAND, Ohio – With the Washington University in St. Louis baseball team ahead by seven runs entering the final frame, the No. 15 Case Western Reserve University offense exploded for eight runs in the ninth to stun WashU, 12-11, and to take the University Athletic Association (UAA) four-game set, 3-1.
With the setback, WashU ends its 2024 season with a record of 24-15-1 (8-7-1), while the Spartans, who won the league, own a record of 30-9 (13-3 UAA).
CWRU outhit the Bears by a final tally of 16-13.
On the mound, sophomore
Miles Quemuel-Labrador got the start and took the no-decision. Quemuel-Labrador fired five innings and allowed four runs. Out of the bullpen, Minarovic suffered the loss (0-1).
The Spartans scored two runs in the first to grab the 2-0 lead.
In the top of the third, Malis reached on a three base error to begin the frame. Following a strike out, Equale drove in Malis on an RBI single to left. After the base knock, CWRU held the one-run, 2-1, cushion.
The Bears scored three runs, on five hits, to stake the 4-1 advantage in the fourth. WashU's first three hitters of the inning reached base safely.
Clayton Miller singled, Polk torched a double to right center, and Minarovic singled to right. Minarovic's single drove in
Clayton Miller to even the score at 2-2. With runners on the corners, and no one out, Lindsey produced a sacrifice fly to center to push across Polk and to give WashU the 3-2 lead.
Still in the fourth, with a runner on second and two down, Malis roped a single to right, which allowed Minarovic to scamper home on the base knock. With the RBI single, the Bears took the 4-2 cushion.
CWRU answered with two runs in the bottom of the fourth to tie the score at 4-4 as the game progressed to the fifth.
WashU recorded three runs in the fifth to open up the 7-4 lead. Senior
Harry Mauterer led off the innings with a walk, then with two down, Minarovic singled to right. Lindsey, continuing his fantastic series, hauled in a two RBI double to right as Polk and Minarovic scored. Next up, Malis singled up the middle, which brought home Lindsey to give the Bears the 7-4 advantage.
The Bears scored three runs in the top of the seventh. Lindsey reached first on a throwing error, which allowed Polk to score. With Lindsey on first, Malis sent his fourth round-tripper of the season over the center field fence. After the long ball, WashU took the 10-4 lead into the bottom of the seventh.
Clayton Miller drove in senior
Magnus Dunn on an RBI to single in the top of the ninth. With the contest heading to the bottom of the ninth, WashU was ahead by seven, 11-4.
The Spartans scored eight runs, on seven hits, to walk-off the Bears in the bottom of the ninth. A two RBI single up the middle ended the game with a final score of 12-11.
This marks the end of the regular season for the Bears.
