Decatur, Ill., March 30, 2011 – Junior Brandon Rogalski drove in the game-winning run in the top of the 11th inning and picked up his second win of the season as the Washington University in St. Louis baseball team outlasted Millikin University, 8-7, on Wednesday night in Decatur, Ill.
The Bears appeared to be headed for a win in the seventh when senior Matt Bayer broke a 5-5 tie by droving a two-run home run over the wall in right field. Washington U. held that lead until the bottom of the ninth when the Big Blue offense got to sophomore Max Gordon, scoring twice before a play at the plate sent the game into extra innings.
Mike Maziarz continued his monster day at the plate for Millikin with a two-RBI base hit to right field off of Rogalski, who came in to relieve Gordon with one out in the bottom of the ninth. But the Bears forced extra innings when Dan Weber was tagged out at home attempting to come all the way around to score from first on Maziarz' base hit.
Washington University right field Matt Polites threw the ball over catcher Joe Noon attempting to catch the game-tying run in Andrew Hendrian at the plate, but Rogalski was there to field the over throw and managed to catch Weber on his aggressive attempt to win the game.
Following a scoreless 10th inning Rogalski delivered the game-winning RBI in the top of the 11th in the form of a sacrifice fly to centerfield, scoring senior Travis May from third. The bottom of the 11th inning came down to another play at the plate.
Adam Shook hit a two out single and stole second to move into scoring position as the game-tying run. Andrew Hendrian sent a base hit to right field and Shook headed home but not before Bayer's throw beat him there, with senior Joe Noon recording the final out of the game.
The Big Blue failed to capitalize on a number of scoring opportunities early it the game, stranding 12 base runners through the first five innings and 16 in the game. Millikin had the bases loaded in the bottom of the third but Washington University starter David Liebman struck out Jared Dosien to end the inning
Washington U. scored once in the first then hung two more runs on the board in the top of the second to take early control of the game. Sophomore designated hitter Seth Bensussen and senior outfielder Ben Ingell each singled to start the second inning and Bensussen came in to score thanks to a Miguel Davis RBI single.
The Bears kept the inning alive when Millikin shortstop Andrew Agee fielded a Rogalski ground ball with two outs but skipped the throw over to first base, allowing Ingell to come around to score from second.
Millikin starter Josh Schultz retired 10-straight batters beginning with the final out of the second inning but ended that run by hitting Noon to lead off the sixth, which led to a pair of Washington University runs and the end of Schultz' day on the mound.
Senior H.T. Flanagan relieved Liebman in the fourth and limited the Big Blue to just one run through his first two innings before running into trouble in the sixth. Three of Millikin's first four batters that inning recorded a base hit, leading to a three-run rally that left the score tied 5-5 before Bayer's game-winning home run in the seventh.
Washington University returns to action on Friday, April 1, when it hosts Greenville College at Kelly Field in St. Louis, Mo., starting at 3 p.m.
Bear Notebook: Rogalski finished the game 0-for-4 at the plate, ending his 12-game hitting streak … Bayer's home run with the sixth of his career … Wednesday night's game was Washington University's first extra-inning game of the season … Maziarz was 5-for-6 with five RBIs … Bayer was 3-for-6 and senior Matt Skinner was 3-for-4.