Sanford, Fla., March 12, 2012 – The Washington University in St. Louis baseball team pounded out 10 hits on its way to earning a 14-2 win in seven innings over Brandeis University at the University Athletic Association (UAA) Tournament Championship on Monday.
Washington University (9-3, 2-0 UAA) earned its ninth-straight win of the season with the victory over Brandeis, matching the longest winning streak for the Bears since 2007. Brandeis dropped to 4-5 overall and 0-2 in the UAA.
Washington University's offense got a quick start, as sophomore Kyle Billig led off the game with a double to left field. Sophomore Dylan Reid was hit by a pitch to give the Bears runners at first and second with no outs. After the Judges were able to get two outs, sophomore Andrew Dwoskin hit a 3-1 pitch down the left-field line for a two-RBI double to put Washington U. ahead 2-0. Junior David Madson followed with a single to right field, scoring Dwoskin from second to make it 3-0 in favor of the Bears.
In the bottom of the third, Brandeis cut into the Bears' lead with a pair of runs. The Judges got a single and a walk with two outs to put runners on first and second. Pat Nicholson singled, and advanced on an error, which allowed the first run to score for Brandeis. The next batter hit an RBI single to make the score 3-2, but Nicholson was thrown out by Billig at the plate to end the inning.
The Bears took advantage of an error early in the top of the fifth inning to score four runs, including two unearned, and extend their lead to 7-2. Freshman Andrew Goldstick hit a lead-off single through the left side of the infield. Billig reached on a throwing error by the Brandeis third baseman on a sacrifice bunt attempt, giving Washington U. runners at second and third with no outs. Reid and senior Brandon Rogalski hit back-to-back RBI singles to make it 5-2, and freshman Zack Kessinger and Doppelt followed with back-to-back sacrifice flies to center field to increase Washington U.'s lead to 7-2.
The Bears sent 11 batters to the plate to break the game open with seven runs in the top of the seventh. Reid drew a one-out walk, and Rogalski followed with a single. On a double-steal of second and third, the Brandeis catcher made a bad throw that allowed Reid to score. Rogalski then stole third and scored on a single to center field by Kessinger. After a pitching change by the Judges, Kessinger moved to third on a pair of wild pitches and Dwoskin drew a walk to give the Bears runners on the corners with one out. Madson picked up an RBI on a groundout to third base that scored Kessinger and allowed Dwoskin to advance to third. After a four-pitch walk for junior Matthew Polites, Dwoskin scored on a wild pitch that also moved Polites to second. Freshman Noah Doppelt and Goldstick drew back-to-back walks to load the bases, forcing Brandeis to make another pitching change. Billig took the first pitch he saw from the new pitcher and doubled to left-center field to clear the bases and make it 14-2 in favor of Washington U. before a fly-out to center field ended the inning.
Junior Matt Tracy limited Brandeis to one earned run in the complete seven-inning effort in his first start for the Bears. He improved to 2-0 on the season with the win. Billig and Rogalski each recorded two hits in the game, as eight different Washington U. batters got hits. Billig and Dwoskin finished with three RBIs each, while Kessinger and Madson each had two RBIs. The Bears drew five walks from the four pitchers used by the Judges.
Washington U. is scheduled to play its third game of the UAA Championship Tournament at 11 a.m. (ET) on Tuesday against Case Western Reserve University.
Bear Notebook: The Bears recorded 10 or more hits in the game for the ninth time this season … Washington U. recorded seven stolen bases in the game, bringing its UAA-leading total to 47 this season … Reid improved to 15-of-15 in stolen bases this season with three against Brandeis … With one RBI against the Judges, Rogalski moved into ninth on the WU all-time career list with 113, two shy of eighth place.