St. Louis, Mo., April 12, 2019 – The No. 10-ranked Washington University in St. Louis baseball team had a pair of exhilarating wins over New York University at Kelly Field on Friday, defeating the Violets 12-2 in seven innings of game one before a back-and-forth 5-4 win in game two.
WashU improved to 22-3-1 and 8-0 in University Athletic Association (UAA) play while dropping NYU to 13-9 overall and 0-6 in UAA play. The Bears pitching staff totaled double digit strikeouts in both contests.
Game 1: WashU 12 – NYU 2
One week after knocking in a career-high four runs on his way to winning the UAA Hitter of the Week honors, senior second baseman Evan Nagel drove in five runs. The final four came on the final play of the game, as Nagel sent the first pitch he saw during his seventh inning at-bat over the right field fence for a walk-off grand slam.
With the bases clearing home run WashU's lead increased to double figures ending the game at 12-2. Freshman shortstop Caleb Durbin, Nagel, junior first baseman John Brinkman and junior center fielder John Ostrander finished the game with two hits apiece. The Bears totaled 12 hits including two home runs and a triple. Nagel and Ostrander scored three runs apiece.
Senior pitcher John Howard settled in after surrendering two runs in the first and finished with seven innings pitched to earn his seventh win of the year which is tied for the lead in Division III. He allowed eighth hits and two walks compared to his personal-best tying 10 strikeouts.
The Bears got on the board in the first inning with a two-out home run by Brinkman. Junior catcher Thomas Gardner's RBI fielder's choice led WashU to a 3-2 lead in the fourth. The Bears scored three runs in the fourth capitalizing on two errors by the Violets.
WashU tacked on two more runs in the fifth on a run scoring triple by Durbin and a sacrifice fly by Nagel. Durbin knocked in another run in the sixth and the Bears took an 8-2 lead after a bases loaded walk by freshman designated hitter Zac Styka.
Game 2: WashU 5 – NYU 4
NYU struck first again in the top of the first and led 2-0 entering the bottom of the fifth inning before the Bears scored four to take the lead. Ostrander bunted for a hit before Durbin and Nagel reached base to load the bases on a hit-by-pitch and walk with two outs.
Brinkman put the Bears ahead 3-2 with a bases clearing double to left center before scoring on a single by freshman left fielder Brendan Hall to center fielder.
A pair of homers by NYU in the top of the seventh tied the game at 4-4, but WashU answered back in the bottom half of the frame. The Red & Green once again scored with two outs. Gardner singled through the left side of the infield which scored Nagel who reached base on a hit-by-pitch.
Freshman pitcher Matt Lopes pitched 1.1 scoreless innings to earn the win striking out two en route to winning his second game of the year. Brinkman moved to the mound for the ninth inning. The Violets loaded the bases before he pitched out of the inning with his third strikeout to earn his fourth save of the year.
Leading the Bears in hits was Hall with two and Brinkman knocked in a team leading three runs while Nagel scored twice.
WashU's doubleheader Saturday, April 13 has been moved up to a 10 a.m. start. Be sure to stay up to date on all your Bears scores and awards by following @WashUBears on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.