Sanford, Fla., March 16, 2012 – Junior Stephen Bonser scattered five hits in his second complete game of the University Athletic Association (UAA) Championship Tournament, but Emory University took advantage of a pair of errors by the Bears to score two unearned runs and pick up a 2-0 win over Washington U. on Friday afternoon.
The win gave Emory (13-7, 6-1 UAA) a one-game lead over Washington U. (12-5, 5-2 UAA) in the UAA standings. The Bears can conclude UAA Tournament play against University of Rochester at 2:30 p.m. (ET) on Saturday. A win for Washington U. on Saturday and an Emory loss on Sunday would give the Bears a tie for the UAA Championship with Emory.
Bonser (2-1) retired the first seven batters he faced, but errors on back-to-back plays followed by a single led to two unearned runs for Emory in the top of the third inning. Bonser then sat down the next 11 batters, before Emory managed another hit in the top of the seventh inning. Overall, he allowed just five hits and recorded six strikeouts, to bring his season total to a team-high 25.
The Washington U. offense managed 10 hits in the game, but the Bears hit into a season-high three double plays and left 10 runners stranded in the game. In the bottom of the fifth, freshman Andrew Goldstick drew a one-out walk and junior Matthew Polites followed with a single to right field. Goldstick stole third, but was thrown out at home after attempting to score on a flyout to center field by sophomore Dylan Reid.
The Bears got three hits in the bottom of the seventh, but another double play took the lead runner off the bases and hurt the scoring opportunity. Junior David Madson finished 3-for-4 at the plate in the game, while Polites and freshman Zack Kessinger each had with two hits for Washington U.
Bear Notebook: It was the first time this season that Washington U. has been held scoreless … The Bears recorded 10 or more hits for the 11th time this season … In two complete games at the UAA Tournament, Bonser did not give up an earned run and allowed just eight hits while striking out 11.