DANVILLE, Ky. – The No. 16/18 Washington University in St. Louis baseball team concluded its season on Sunday as the Bears fell in the Centre Region Final to (RV) Piedmont, 12-8.
Serving as the visitors in the contest, WashU got on the board in the top of the first with a pair of runs. First-year
Chance Cromer led off with a triple to left field before junior
Anthony Equale walked to put runners on the corners. A single by senior
Shane Pellegrino to center allowed Cromer to score and Equale to reach second. Sophomore
Cooper Greene followed with a double to left that scored Equale as the Bears took a 2-0 lead.
Piedmont answered back with a trio of runs in the bottom of the first. The first run came across after a double and two wild pitches. Then, with one out, the Lions had back-to-back singles before another out was recorded. A walk and single later, both runs scored as Piedmont took a 3-2 lead after one inning.
In the top of the second, WashU got back-to-back doubles from sophomore
Miles Birke and Cromer. On Cromer's hit, Birke raced around and scored. Equale then hit a single to center field that scored Cromer, putting the Bears back in front, 4-3.
It wasn't long before the Lions answered with four runs in the bottom of the second inning. Piedmont got three straight singles to start their half of the frame and tied the score up at 4-4. A fielder's choice got the first out, but it allowed the runner on third to score. After a sacrifice fly scored the third run of the inning, a walk was followed by a single to center that scored the fourth run as the Lions led 7-4 after two complete.
Piedmont tacked on one more in the third after a two-out walk came in and scored on a double. In the fourth, Piedmont increased its lead to six, 10-4, with another two runs as the Lions scored twice on four hits.
A scoreless fifth for both teams led to the Bears cutting the deficit in half in the top of the sixth. Greene led off with a double and Dillon walked to start off the frame. With one out, Soong walked to load the bases. Stephens then connected on a fielder's choice that scored Greene. Dillon then scored when the throw from the shortstop to first got away, allowing both Dillon and Stephens to score and trimming the Piedmont lead down to 10-7.
In the top of the seventh, Greene led off with a single to third and reached second after Dillon walked. A sacrifice bunt by Taigen advanced the runners to second and third. Soong then hit a deep fly ball to the outfield for a sacrifice fly as Greene came in and scored, and the Bears trailed just 10-8.
However, Piedmont added two runs in the bottom of the eighth to put the game out of reach, and the Bears closed out the game with runners on second and third in the top of the ninth.
Greene finished the game going 3-for-5 at the plate with two runs scored and an RBI. Junior
Owen Block (1-2) took the loss on the mound.
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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.
