DANVILLE, Ky. – The No. 16/18 Washington University in St. Louis baseball team has advanced to the Centre Regional Final on Sunday, May 17 after closing out day two with a 12-5 win over Aurora. Earlier in the day the Bears dropped a heartbreaker 5-4 to (RV) Piedmont, who they will face in the regional championship.
Game 1: Piedmont 5, WashU 4
The Lions jumped out to a quick lead with three runs in the top of the first. Piedmont loaded the bases with the first three batters before scoring the runs on a fielder's choice and a pair of singles.
With the bats settled down, the teams went scoreless until the top of the sixth when the Lions took advantage of a hit batter who came around and scored off a groundout and a single up the middle to take a 4-0 lead.
The Bears got on the board in the bottom of the inning with a pair of runs. Senior
Shane Pellegrino led off with a single through the left side and reached second on a one-out groundout by first-year
Drew Dillon. Sophomore
Cooper Greene then singled through the left side, scoring Pellegrino from second. That was followed by a single from sophomore
Will Taigen to second that was overthrown, allowing Greene to reach third then take home safely.
The Lions added their fifth run in the top of the eighth. With one out, Piedmont got a single to center before the runner stole second. A single to right followed that allowed the runner to score, giving them a 5-2 lead.
WashU scored twice in the bottom of the eighth to pull within one. With two outs, Dillon walked and advanced to third on a double from sophomore
Cooper Greene. Taigen followed with a single up the middle that scored both Greene and Dillon, trimming the score to 5-4.
The Lions were able to go three-up, three-down in the ninth to preserve the win.
Greene led the way going 2-for-3 at the plate with two runs scored and one RBI. Taigen finished going 2-for-4 with three RBIs.
Senior
Isaac Zhang (5-1) took the loss, pitching the first 4.0 innings and finishing with three strikeouts.
Game 2: WashU 12, Aurora 5
The bats came alive for the Bears in an elimination game against Aurora on Saturday evening.
In the bottom of the first, WashU scored four runs to take a quick lead. First-year
Chance Cromer led off being hit by a pitch before sophomore
Ryan Soong tripled to right center, scoring Cromer. With one out, Pellegrino singled through the left side that saw Soong score, giving WashU the 2-0 lead. Then with two outs, Dillon singled to left while Pellegrino advanced to second. A double steal later, the Bears had runners on second and third. Taigen would hit a single through the right side deep enough to score both Dillon and Pellegrino. This would give the Bears a 4-0 lead.
WashU added three more in the second inning. Sophomore
Miles Birke and Cromer led off with a walk each to put runners on first and second. With one out, junior
Anthony Equale singled to left to load the bases. Pellegrino then had one of his three hits, a double to left center, that scored both Birke from third and Cromer from second. Greene followed with a sacrifice fly to right that scored Equale, giving WashU a 7-0 advantage.
The Spartans used a walk, a pair of fielders' choices, and a pair of singles to score, trimming the lead down to 7-1.
The Bears immediately answered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the third. Sophomore
Kevin Stephens singled to right before Birke had a sacrifice bunt, allowing Stephens to reach second. A double from Cromer down the right field line scored Stephens. Then with two outs, Equale doubled to left center, which scored Cromer and put WashU up 9-1 after just three innings.
The fourth inning saw the Bears reach double-digit runs with another two-out inning. With the two outs, Taigen and Stephens both singled. Birke loaded the bases after being hit by a pitch. With the bases loaded, Cromer was also hit by a pitch, pushing Taigen home as the Bears took the 10-1 lead.
The fifth inning saw two more runs for WashU as Pellegrino would score after reaching on a single, taking third on a single by Greene and scoring on a Dillon sacrifice fly. Greene would be the other run to score after taking second on a hit by pitch on Taigen and a single from Stephens.
Trailing 12-2, Aurora scored twice in the top of the seventh using three hits and an error to cut into the lead. Then in the eighth the Spartans trimmed the lead down to seven with another two runs using a solo home run and a WashU error to get within 12-5.
Senior
Alex Ardemagni came in in relief in the top of the ninth, inducing a flyout, strikeout, and a popup to secure the win for the Bears.
Equale, Pellegrino and Stephens each recorded three hits. Pellegrino finished going 3-for-5 with three RBIs and two runs scored. Stephens also went 3-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored.
Junior
Parker Guthrie (5-2) pitched the first 6.0 innings, earning the win with six strikeouts and allowing just one run.
WashU will take on (RV) Piedmont on Sunday, May 17 at 11 a.m. ET in the regional final, with the "if necessary" game to follow immediately.
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