St. Louis, Mo., March 22, 2011 – Senior first baseman Matt Skinner's monster day at the plate led the Washington University in St. Louis baseball team to a doubleheader split with Illinois College at Kelly Field on Tuesday afternoon.
After winning the first game 7-2, the Bears appeared to be headed to a second victory when Skinner smacked his first home run of the year, a two-run shot off the scoreboard in right field, to give his team a 4-2 lead in the bottom of the sixth inning.
However, Washington University closer H.T. Flanagan gave up three hits to start the seventh, including a three-run home run to Paul Ferrero, and Illinois College came away with a split in the twinbill.
The top of the order did the bulk of the damage for Washington University in its game-one win. The Bears' first four batters combined to bat 10-for-15 with six RBIs and six runs scored. Freshman Kyle Billig and Skinner were especially lethal at the plate with six extra-base hits.
Washington University scored two runs in each of the first three innings to take a commanding 6-0 lead. Billig led off the first inning with a hard hit double and scored on a double from junior Brandon Rogalski. Skinner picked up an RBI single on the next at-bat to score Rogalski from second.
Billig added another double in the second and Skinner tallied two more RBIs with a double to left field to give the Red and Green a 4-0 lead. Billig tacked on his third extra-base hit with an RBI triple off the fence in left-center field in the third inning and scored for a third time when senior Travis May sent a sacrifice flyout to centerfield.
On the mound Stephen Bonser was in complete control picking up his second complete-game victory of the year and improving to 3-0 in the process. Bonser gave up just four hits and two unearned runs in seven innings, striking out seven and retiring Illinois College in order in four of his seven innings.
Bonser also took over the team lead in earned run average, lowering his 2011 ERA to 1.77. He has allowed just four earned runs in 20.1 innings with 14 strikeouts.
Senior Bryce Hrovat received the start in game two, lasting five innings and giving up just one run on three hits with four strikeouts in the no decision.
Skinner finished the day batting 6-for-7 with five RBIs and three runs scored, hitting three doubles and a home run for a 1.714 slugging percentage. Rogalski extended his Washington University season-best hitting streak to 10-straight games and finished the day batting 2-for-7 with an RBI and two runs.
Washington U. (11-11) returns to action on Thursday, March 24, when it hosts the University of Wisconsin-Platteville for a single game at Kelly Field starting at 3 p.m.