Rain in the forecast caused some movement in the weekend series at Case Western Reserve but that did not bother the Emory University baseball program as the Eagles downed the Spartans, 9-0, in the series opener Thursday afternoon at Nobby's Ballpark in Cleveland, Ohio.
With the win, Emory wins its third straight UAA game to improve to 3-1 in the conference and 14-9 overall while CWRU slips to 2-3 inside UAA play and now stands 10-9 on the year.
Senior Aaron Mishoulam continued his impressive run, winning his fifth consecutive decision with a strong seven inning performance. Mishoulam tossed seven shutout frames to improve to 5-2. He allowed six hits, all singles, and two walks while racking up a career-best nine strikeouts.
Junior Jacob Grossman was equally as good to lead the Emory offense, recording the first five hit game by any Eagles this season. Grossman went 5-for-5 with two doubles and drove in three runs.
After neither team plated a run in the first two innings, Emory began their scoring run in the third and would plate at least one run in four consecutive innings.
The first three Eagles reached base to open the third with Grossman driving in the first run with a double to bring home freshman Zach Wasserlauf. Senior Ellis Schwartz and sophomore Matthew Sicoli proceeded to pick up RBIs in the next two plate appearances to give the Eagles a 3-0 lead.
Emory posted two runs in each of the next innings with Grossman coming through with one of his two doubles, smacking a two-run two-bagger in the fourth.
With the score 7-0 in favor of the visitors, senior Henry Pelinski recorded a run-scoring single in the sixth before sophomore Jack Halloran rounded out the scoring in the eighth, plating Sicoli with a fielder's choice in the eighth.
Following Mishoulam's stellar outing, junior Derek Livingston and senior Mike Golob each had scoreless appearances out of the pen to complete the team's second shutout of the season.
The two teams are tentatively scheduled to resume their weekend series on Friday at 3:00 PM, weather permitting. Please be sure to check CWRU and Emory athletic websites and social media channels regarding any possible schedule changes.