The Basics
Score: Roanoke 9 | Case Western Reserve 8

Records: Maroons 4-4 / 0-0 ODAC | Spartans 3-2
Location: Salem, Va.

The Lead: Sunday would see the first of three consecutive games with Case Western Reserve at the Salem Memorial Ballpark. The Maroons raced out to an early, 4-0, lead but the Spartans would score five straight forcing a Roanoke rally. Roanoke posted a three-spot but Case responded with three of their own to take a one-run lead into the bottom of the ninth. The Maroons got an RBI double to tie the game before a shot off the top of the left field wall would see Roanoke complete the rally and win 9-8.  

Highlights:

• PK Cocolis got the afternoon started with a double off the right field fence and advanced to third on a ground out. With two outs, Mason Staz delivered an RBI single to center to give the Maroons the 1-0 lead.
• With two outs, Carson McCusker walked and stole second and then advanced to third on a Jacob Bonzon infield single. Cocolis then delivered a triple to left center to make it 3-0. Will Smith laced a single to center to plate Cocolis and the Maroons took a 4-0 lead into the third inning of play.
• After retiring the Spartans in order for the first three innings, Case would load the bases with no outs and use that to fuel a four-run inning, tying the score at 4-4.
• After Case Western took the lead for the first time, Roanoke would answer with three runs in the bottom half. A bases loaded walk tied the game and then a Bonzon fielder's choice scored Hunter Andrews and Owen Lawn crossed the plate by virtue of a throwing error.
• Heading into the bottom of the ninth, Roanoke trailed by one. With two outs, Cocolis singled to right and tied the game on a deep double to the left centerfield gap by Smith. Jonny Wall completed the rally when he sent a shot off the highest part of the left field wall to plate Smith and secure the 9-8 win for the Maroons.
• Cocolis was 4-5 and just missed hitting for the cycle, when his second double hit the wall less than five feet from clearing, with three runs and a pair of RBI. Wall was 3-6 with the game winning RBI while Smith and Bonzon combined to go 4-9 with two runs and four RBI. Wall, Smith, and McCusker each swiped one base.
• Jackson Murphy got the start before giving way to Caleb Lingenfelter. Anthony Sullivan got a big out in the seventh while Gardner Meeks got the final seven outs, giving up three hits with a strikeout, to pick up his first win of the season.

Up next: Roanoke will play game two against CWR tomorrow at 11:00am.