ST. LOUIS, Mo. – For the fifth time this season, the No. 12 Washington University in St. Louis baseball team did not go the full nine innings of its game. All five times, including Sunday's 15-5 win over Illinois Wesleyan, ended early due to the run-rule as the Bears led by 10 runs or more after the seventh inning.
Prior to the series finale with the Titans, WashU honored its senior class with a special recognition ceremony on the field. The six Bear seniors are:
Josh Holt,
Shane Pellegrino,
Connor Lindsey,
Isaac Zhang,
Miles Quemuel-Labrador, and
Alex Ardemagni.
After a scoreless top of the first, WashU put two up in the bottom of the inning. With two outs, junior
Anthony Equale doubled down the left field line and reached third on a wild pitch. First-year
Jacob Witte followed with a double to right center, scoring Equale and putting WashU up 1-0. Pellegrino then smacked the third straight double for the Bears down the left field line, scoring Witte from second, giving WashU the 2-0 lead after one inning.
The Titans cut the lead in half in the top of the second with a two-out double and a throwing error to score, cutting the lead down to 2-1.
The Bears got the run right back in the bottom of the frame as first-year
Eli Sitzer led off with a walk. After a pop-up, Sitzer stole second and was able to advance to third on a throwing error by the IWU catcher. He would score on the next play as sophomore
Miles Birke singled through the left side as WashU went up 3-1.
Nearly half of the Bears' runs on the day came in the fourth and fifth innings. Pellegrino led off the fourth with a single up the middle and stole second. After sophomore
Will Taigen was intentionally walked, Sitzer sacrifice bunted Pellegrino to third and Taigen to second. Sophomore
Cooper Greene walked to load the bases.
In a very rare occurrence, the Titans' pitcher balked, allowing all three base runners to advance one base, allowing Pellegrino to score. A sacrifice fly by Birke scored Taigen, and a single by first-year
Chance Cromer scored Greene as the Bears took a 6-1 lead.
The fifth inning saw WashU add even more runs to the scoreboard. With one out, Witte walked and Pellegrino singled through the left side, with Witte taking second. Taigen followed with a single to center that saw Pellegrino take second and scored Witte.
With runners on Taigen on second and Pellegrino on third and two outs, Greene hit a deep single to the shortstop, scoring Pellegrino. Birke then hit a single of his own to left field, allowing Taigen to score. Cromer then collected the third straight hit for the Bears with a single to right center, scoring Greene and giving WashU the 10-1 lead.
The Titans would score a single run in the top of the sixth, with the Bears answering once again in the bottom of the inning with a run of their own. A Witte single and Pellegrino double were followed by a sacrifice fly by Taigen to right field as Witte came across home plate.
IWU responded with a trio of runs in the top of the seventh off of three hits and a WashU error as they trailed 11-5 after the top of the frame. WashU immediately answered with two of their own runs in the bottom of the seventh to go back up by eight, 13-5.
After a three-up/three-down top of the eighth, Pellegrino singled to left field on his first pitch, and Taigen hit a single to the shortstop on his first pitch. Not to be left out, Sitzer followed with a single through the left side to load the bases. Lindsey would be hit by a pitch to drive in Phillips from third, and Birke walked on four straight pitches to reach the 10-run gap, with WashU leading 15-5.
Pellegrino went a perfect 5-5 on the day with two doubles, two runs scored, and an RBI. Equale finished with three hits along with a run scored and an RBI. Birke closed out the game with four RBIs.
Junior
Levi Gingerich picked up his first win of the season, pitching the first five innings and collecting four strikeouts while allowing just one run.
WashU will play its last remaining non-conference road contest this Wednesday, Mar. 11 at 5 p.m. when it travels to Rose-Hulman for a single game in Terre Haute, Ind.
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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.
