Sanford, Fla., March 11, 2013 – Sophomore Chris Lowery recorded three RBIs and senior Stephen Bonser pitched his third complete-game win of the season as the Washington University in St. Louis baseball team earned a 6-2 win over Emory University Monday afternoon on day two of the University Athletic Association (UAA) Championship Tournament.
Washington U. improved to 6-3 overall and 2-0 in the UAA with the win, while two-time defending UAA champion Emory dropped to 6-8 overall and 0-3 in the UAA Championship Tournament. Washington University faces Case Western Reserve (4-1, 2-0 UAA) at 2 p.m. (ET) Tuesday. The Spartans earned a 7-4 win over Emory Sunday and a 12-0 win over the University of Rochester Monday.
With the score tied 1-1, Washington U. plated three runs in the top of the sixth inning to take the lead for good. Senior David Madson hit a two-out single to get things started for the Bears. Senior Matthew Polites was hit by a pitch and junior Kyle Billig drew a four-pitch walk to load the bases. Freshman Max Golembo drew a walk to score Madson, and Lowery followed with a two-RBI single to left field to push the Bears' lead to 4-1. Sophomore Zack Kessinger was intentionally walked to again load the bases, but a fielder's choice ended the inning.
Emory scored a run on a two-out RBI double in the bottom of the sixth inning to cut the Washington U. lead to 4-2, but the Bears scored an unearned run in the top of the eighth and another in the top of the ninth to finish with the 6-2 win.
Washington U. got off to a hot start in the game, with Billig, Golembo and Lowery hitting three-straight singles to open the top of the first inning. Lowery's hit to left field scored Billig from second and gave Washington U. a 1-0 lead. In the bottom of the third, Emory turned a leadoff single into a run on a two-out RBI double to tie the score at 1-1. Bonser retired the next seven batters he faced as the score remained 1-1until the top of the sixth.
Bonser (3-0) threw his third complete-game in as many starts this season, scattering five hits and striking out six without allowing a walk. Through 28 innings of work this season, Bonser has posted a 1.29 ERA with four earned runs, 23 strikeouts and just two walks. Washington U. recorded 10 hits in the game, but left 15 runners on base. Lowery went 3-for-6 with three RBIs to lead the Bears offensively in the game.
Bear Notebook: It was Bonser's 15th career win (15-5), two victories shy of entering Washington University's all-time top-10 list for career wins … Lowery has recorded multiple hits in six games this season … It was the fifth time in 2013 that Washington U. has recorded double-digit hits.