Sanford, Fla., March 11, 2012 – Junior Stephen Bonser pitched a three-hit shutout and sophomore Kyle Billig hit a one-out single up the middle to drive in the winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning to give the Washington University in St. Louis baseball team a 1-0 win over University of Rochester on the first day of the University Athletic Association (UAA) Championship Tournament.
After Bonser held Rochester scoreless through nine innings, freshman Noah Doppelt led off the bottom of the ninth for Washington U. with an infield bunt single. After Doppelt stole second base, freshman Andrew Goldstick moved him to third with a sacrifice bunt. Billig then drove a two-strike pitch up the middle for an RBI single to win the game for the Bears.
The biggest scoring threat for Rochester came in the top of the fourth inning, when the Yellowjackets had runners on first and third with one out. Bonser got out of the jam with a fielder's choice to get the runner at home, and a groundout.
Bonser allowed just three hits in the complete-game effort, while striking out five, to improve to 2-0 this season. Washington U. finished with five hits in the game, including two by Doppelt.
Washington U. (8-3), who picked up its eighth-straight win, continues UAA Championship Tournament play at 11 a.m. (ET) on Monday against Brandeis University.