ST. LOUIS, Mo. – Looking to rebound after their lone loss of the season, the No. 6 Washington University in St. Louis baseball team began a three-game series with Transylvania on Friday afternoon. After a slower start for the Bears, the bats came alive as WashU picked up a 9-4 win over the visiting Pioneers at Kelly Field.
The win improves the Bears to 10-1 on the season, while Transy fell to 5-6.
The Pioneers got on the board first in the top of the first after the leadoff batter reached on a hit by pitch and eventually scored on a groundout to third base for the 1-0 lead.
The score would remain 1-0 until the bottom of the second when first-year
Drew Dillon hit a one-out single to right-center and got to second on a stolen base. After Transy got a strikeout, Dillon would steal third, but a throwing error in the attempt to get him out went beyond the third baseman, allowing Dillon to score and tie the game at 1-1.
WashU would take the lead in the bottom of the third after first-year
Chance Cromer walked, and sophomore
Ryan Soong doubled down the left field line, giving the Bears the 2-1 lead after three innings.
The Pioneers tied the game once again at 2-2 in the top of the fifth after a single up the middle by Nick Pietromonaco, who then reached second on a sacrifice bunt and scored on a single by Calvin Schubert.
It did not take long for the Bears to answer as they scored a pair of runs to retake the lead 4-3 in the bottom of the fifth. After sophomore
Will Taigen reached on a strikeout-wild pitch, Cromer singled through the left side. A bunt single by Soong loaded the bases for junior
Anthony Equale. A fielder's choice for Equale scored Taigen and left runners at first and third.
After Equale stole second, first-year
Jacob Witte grounded out to the shortstop, but it allowed Cromer to score and give the Bears the 4-3 lead.
WashU added another run in the bottom of the sixth when sophomore
Cooper Greene singled to right field, and Taigen followed with a reach for the second time in as many innings on a single to right-center. The hit allowed Greene to advance to third. Cromer would ground out to second base, but it allowed another run for WashU to cross the plate, putting the home team ahead 5-3.
After Transy got one run back in the top of the seventh, WashU answered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the frame. Equale led off with a double to right field and then stole third. With one out, Dillon was intentionally walked before graduate
Josh Erpenbeck pinch hit and was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Senior
Shane Pellegrino picked up the five-pitch walk to score Equale. A fielder's choice on Greene's at-bat would score Dillon and give the Bears the three-run lead, 7-4.
WashU added their final two runs in the bottom of the eighth, with Cromer walking and Soong hitting a single to left field. After a groundout put runners at second and third, Witte doubled to right field to score Cromer and push Soong to third. A sacrifice bunt by Dillon would score Soong, providing the final score of 9-4 after a scoreless top of the ninth.
Soong led the Bears with three of the team's 11 hits on the day. He also had one RBI and a run scored. Dillon also had a multi-hit game against the Pioneers with a pair while scoring twice, knocking in one RBI, and earning one walk.
Graduate
Chase Brickley earned his fourth win of the season, pitching the first five innings, striking out six and allowing three runs. Junior
Parker Guthrie collected his third save of the season, pitching the final three innings, striking out a pair and allowing just one run.
WashU and Transy will complete the three-game series with a doubleheader on Saturday, Mar. 14, beginning at 2 p.m.
------------------------------------------
Elevating scholar-champions requires resources beyond the institutional budget. Through the W Club, generous alumni, parents, and friends provide unrestricted support that is essential to the extraordinary WashU student-athlete experience—and the ongoing growth and development of the department. Annual support for Athletics allows the Bears to consistently rise to national levels of competition and ensures that our student-athletes enjoy exceptional opportunities as they train, compete, and lead. To make a gift to the Annual Fund for Athletics, please visit our secure online giving form or contact the Athletics Advancement Office at athletics@wustl.edu.
