Clarksville, Ark. – The Washington University in St. Louis baseball team completed the sweep of the University of the Ozarks on Sunday with a 9-7 win in 10 innings. The Bears are 3-0 on the year.
The Bears wasted no time putting runs on the board, scoring three in the top of the first inning.
Shane Pellegrino hit a one-out single to center and moved up on a
Clayton Miller single to center.
Broghan O'Connor drew a two-out walk to load the bases for the Bears.
Justin Zachery reached base on an error, scoring Pellegrino for the first run of the game.
Kaden Bernhard then drove in two runs with a single to center, scoring Miller and O'Connor to make it a 3-0 game.
WashU put up three more runs in the top of the second to take a 6-0 lead.
Hunter Goldberg drew a lead-off walk and moved up on a
Brandon Buday single to third. Pellegrino loaded the bases after being hit by a pitch. All three runners moved up on a balk, scoring Goldberg.
Dax Braemer reached on an error by short, giving Buday and Pellegrino the chance to score.
Ozarks got on the board in the bottom of the second inning, starting with a Jackson walk who then advanced to second on a wild pitch. Baker moved on an Ethan Cash sac fly and then scored on a wild pitch.
The Eagles added three more runs in the bottom of the fifth inning, starting with a Rennie Arjona single to center. He advanced on a Cole Clark single to center and Isaac Price drew a walk to load the bases. Arjona scored on a fielder's choice play from Nicholas Bennett. Alfredo Reid, who was in to pinch run for Bennett, moved to second on a ground out by Baker and Cash drew a walk. All three runners advanced on a balk, scoring Clark. Then Reid scored on a fielder's choice to cut WashU's lead to 6-4.
WashU went on to score another in the top of the seventh inning. With one out, Bernhard drilled a double to center and then scored on a Goldberg triple.
Ozarks also added another run in the bottom of the seventh inning. With two outs, Dru Didway singled to center and Baker drew a walk. Cash followed with a single to center, scoring Josh Ropple who came in to run for Didway.
In the bottom of the ninth, Ozarks tied the game 7-7 as Baker drilled a two-run homer to left field, forcing extra innings.
The Bears quickly answered in the top of the tenth inning with two runs.
Pellegrino led off with a single to right field and advanced to third on a Miller double to right. The Eagles intentionally walked Braemer, loading the bases. With one out, Zachery singled to center, bringing in Pellegrino and Miller.
The Bears got out of a jam in the bottom of the tenth, leaving three runners stranded to hold on for the win.
Bernhard went 3-for-5 with two RBI and one run scored while Pellegrino went 2-for-5 with three runs score. Clayton finished 3-for-6 with two runs scored and Goldberg was 1-for-2 with one RBI and one run scored.
Kyle Coates notched the win, pitching one inning with three strikeouts.
The Bears travel to Hendrix next weekend for a three-game series.
