Terre Haute, Ind., May 1, 2013 – The Washington University in St. Louis scored a season-high 14 runs, including seven in the second inning, en route to a 14-1 win at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology Wednesday evening.
Washington U. sent 13 batters to the plate in the top of the second inning, scoring seven runs on seven hits and three walks in the inning to build a 7-0 lead. Seniors Kevin Paule and David Madson both singled and senior Matthew Polites drew a walk to load the bases with one out for the Bears. Freshman Max Golembo and sophomore Andrew Goldstick followed with back-to-back RBI singles, and Polites scored on a wild pitch to make it 3-0 in favor of the Bears. Junior Kyle Billig drew a walk to load the bases, ahead of sophomore Chris Lowery's sacrifice fly.
Sophomore Zack Kessinger then hit a two-RBI double to extend the lead to 6-0. Paule hit his second single of the inning, and sophomore Noah Doppelt followed with an RBI single to make it 7-0. Madson drew a walk to again load the bases for Washington U., but a groundout ended the inning. In the top of the third, Golembo led off with a walk and came around to score on a wild pitch to give the Bears an 8-0 lead.
Rose-Hulman got runners to second and third with one out in the bottom of the third, but senior Stephen Bonser got a called strikeout and a groundout to end the inning. The Fightin' Engineers got the bases loaded with one out on a pair of singles and a walk in the bottom of the fourth, but Bonser got a flyout and a strikeout to keep the shutout intact.
The Bears added two more runs on an RBI single by Golembo and a groundout by Goldstick in the top of the fifth to extend the lead to 10-0. Rose-Hulman scored on back-to-back doubles to lead off the bottom of the sixth, making it 10-1. In the top of the seventh, Billig hit a three-run homer to right, his third of the season, to make it 13-1. Paule hit a solo homerun to left in the top of the eighth to finish the scoring for the Bears.
Bonser (6-2) took sole possession of 10th on Washington University's career wins list (18), throwing five shutout innings. He scattered five hits and issued two walks, while striking out three. Senior Taylor Berman allowed one run on four hits, while striking out one, in two innings. Junior Matt Kenahan and Lowery each threw one inning of relief, combining for three strikeouts.
Eight different players recorded hits in the game for Washington U., who tallied 14 hits as a team. Golembo and Paule both finished 3-for-5 at the plate to lead the way for the Bears. Golembo had a double, two RBIs and four runs scored, while Paule had a homerun, an RBI and two runs. Kessinger (2-for-5, double, two RBIs, run) and Madson (2-for-4, run) had two hits apiece.
Washington U. has 10 days off before playing its final regular-season games. The Bears take on University of Chicago in a doubleheader beginning at Noon Saturday, May 11 at Kelly Field. Washington U. will also be recognizing its 11 seniors for Senior Day.
Bear Notebook: It marked the 22nd game this season that Washington U. has had double-digit hits … Kessinger has recorded hits in his last 16 games … Billig's two runs scored moved him into a tie for second on Washington U.'s career leaderboard (146) … Billig also recorded his 155th career hit with the homerun, one hit shy of 10th on the all-time career list … It was Bonser's 10th start of the season and second in five days … Bonser has walked just six batters in 73.1 innings this season.