NORTH PARK BOX | BUENA VISTA BOX
St. Louis, Mo., March 4, 2013 – The Washington University in St. Louis baseball team swept a pair of games Monday at Kelly Field. Behind an impressive pitching performance by senior Stephen Bonser, the Bears earned a 3-0 win over North Park University in the first game of the day, before picking up a 7-4 win over Buena Vista University in game two.
Washington U. (4-2) has two more home games scheduled this week at Kelly Field. The Bears are scheduled to face Fontbonne University at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 6. The next day, Washington U. is scheduled to take on Principia College at 3 p.m. Thursday.
Washington U. 3, North Park 0
Bonser (2-0) threw another outstanding game for the Bears, picking up his second complete-game win in as many starts this season. He recorded a career-high 12 strikeouts and scattered six hits without issuing a walk. It was Bonser's 13th complete game of his career, and improved his career record to 14-5.
The Bears grabbed a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning when freshman Max Golembo reached on an error to lead off the inning. He came around to score on a two-out RBI single to left-center field by sophomore Chris Lowery. In the top of the third, North Park got three singles to load the bases with one out. Bonser got out of the inning with back-to-back strikeouts. Washington U. added a run in the bottom of the inning. Sophomore Andrew Goldstick reached on a wild pitch after striking out, then stole second and advanced to third on another wild pitch. Lowery then hit a sacrifice fly to score Goldstick and make it 2-0.
In the bottom of the fourth, senior Kevin Paule drew a leadoff walk. He advanced to second on a groundout then moved to third when senior Matthew Polites reached on an error. Paule took advantage of another wild pitch by North Park's Alex Silverthorne to score the Bears' third run of the game. Bonser retired 16 of the last 18 batters he faced, including seven strikeouts, to preserve the shutout win.
Lowery went 2-for-3 with two RBIs, and Goldstick was 2-for-4 with a run scored to lead the Bears offensively. Paule was 1-for-2 with two walks and a run.
Washington U. 7, Buena Vista 4
The Bears again got on the board in the first inning against Buena Vista when Golembo drew a leadoff walk and came around to score on a sacrifice fly by Lowery. In the bottom of the second, senior Alan Komorowski led off with a single, before scoring on a sacrifice fly to center field by Golembo.
The Beavers put together three singles to score a run in the top of the third, cutting the Bears' lead to 2-1. Washington U. answered in the bottom of the inning when Lowery and sophomore Zack Kessinger hit back-to-back singles, then scored on a two-RBI triple to the gap in deep left-center field by freshman Kyle Kozak. Komorowski followed with a single to score Kozak and give the Bears a 5-1 lead.
Washington U. added two unearned runs in the bottom of the fourth to extend its lead to 7-1. In the top of the sixth, Buena Vista made the most of a leadoff double down the left-field line, scoring on a two-out single to make it 7-2. The Bears had an opportunity to add to their lead in the bottom of the seventh when Komorowski led off with a triple to right-center, but were unable to score, keeping their 7-2 lead. The Beavers hit four-straight two-out singles to score two runs and bring the tying run to the plate, but a fielder's choice sealed the 7-4 win for Washington U.
Senior Taylor Berman (1-1) picked up the win for the Bears, allowing two runs on 11 hits in seven innings of work. Sophomore Max Zhang came in for the final out to earn his first save of the season and fourth of his career. Senior Ryan Furtick threw one scoreless inning of relief, while Lowery allowed two runs on four hits in 2/3 of an inning.
Komorowski was the leading hitter for the Bears, finishing 3-for-4 with a triple, a run and an RBI. Kozak (2-for-4, triple, two RBI, run) and sophomore Brian Cizek (2-for-4, RBI) also had multiple-hit games for Washington U.
Bear Notebook: Lowery has recorded at least one hit in every game this season for the Bears, including four multiple-hit games … Bonser increased his career strikeout count to 110 … Bonser is now three victories shy of entering Washington U.'s all-time career wins leaderboard.