CLEVELAND, Ohio (March 30) – The Waynesburg University baseball team traveled to Case Western Reserve on Wednesday for a nine-inning game against the Spartans. The Yellow Jackets got off to a fast start, but couldn't turn it into a win, as they fell 11-6.
 
The Jackets (1-14) scored the game's first run in the top of the first, when junior first baseman Jonathon Kletzli singled in sophomore left fielder Tyler Godwin. Case (12-9) battled back in the bottom of the frame, by plating four runs and taking a 4-1 advantage.
 
Waynesburg didn't back down from the home team's challenge and managed to pull even with the Spartans in the top of the third. After a scoreless second frame, the Jackets put up a three-spot in their half of the inning. Kletzli recorded his second RBI of the afternoon with a double. Freshman designated hitter Eli Kucheraway sprinted home on a wild pitch to make the score 4-3, before a sacrifice fly from senior catcher Tyler Rubasky allowed Kletzli to sprint home with the game-tying run.
 
Unfortunately, the lead was short-lived, as Case regained the edge at 5-4 with a tally in the bottom of the third. Two innings later, that lead grew to 7-4, before the Jackets responded with two runs of their own in the top of the sixth. Junior right fielder Luke Carter did the damage with a double that plated Rubasky and Kletzli, making the score 7-6.
 
The Case bats ultimately proved to be too much for Waynesburg, as the Spartans piled up four big insurance runs in the sixth to bring about the final score of 11-6. Neither team scored over the final three innings of competition.
 
Kletzli put together arguably his best game of the season at the plate. He went three-for-four with a double, two RBI and two runs scored. Kucherawy and junior centerfielder Josh Hausler contributed two hits each on the day.
 
Sophomore Brandon Lawless got the start on the mound and suffered the loss after giving up seven runs, six of which were earned, on seven hits and three walks over five innings of work. Senior Connor Furwa, junior Parker Beatty and junior Scott Hefty combined to work the final three frames of the game.
 
Waynesburg is back in action on Friday, April 1, with a road trip to La Roche. First pitch in the doubleheader is scheduled for 1 p.m.