Sanford, Fla., March 17, 2012 – A suicide squeeze bunt scored the game-winning run for University of Rochester as the Yellowjackets defeated Washington University in St. Louis 4-3 in the 11th inning at the University Athletic Association (UAA) Championship Tournament on Saturday.
After winning their first five games of the UAA Tournament, Washington U. suffered tough losses in its final three games to finish the week with a 5-3 UAA record. The Bears will finish in at least a tie for second place in the UAA standings. UAA champion Emory University (6-1 UAA) squares off against Case Western Reserve University (4-3 UAA) in the final game of the tournament on Sunday.
Sophomore Kyle Billig and junior Matthew Polites were both hit by pitches to open the game for Washington U. After Billig stole third base, freshman Zack Kessinger hit a one-out single to center field to give the Bears a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. In the bottom of the fourth inning, Rochester tied the score with a run on four hits and an error.
The Yellowjackets took the lead with one run on three hits in the bottom of the sixth to make it 2-1, before adding another run the next inning to extend the lead to 3-1. Washington U. bounced back in the top of the eight inning as freshman Chris Lowery hit a one-out solo homerun to left field on the first pitch he saw as a pinch hitter. With two outs and the bases loaded after a walk to two batters hit by pitches, Polites reached on an error by the Rochester third baseman, scoring Billig to tie the game at 3-3.
The Bears left the bases loaded in the eighth, and again in the top of the 10th. In the bottom of the 10th, Rochester had the bases loaded with one out, but Washington U. turned its second double play of the game to get out of the inning. In the bottom of the 11th, Rochester drew a walk, hit a double down the right-field line, and got an intentional walk to load the bases with one out before Rob Barnard singled on a suicide bunt to score the game-winning run and give the Yellowjackets the 4-3 win.
Four pitchers threw in the game for Washington U., with junior Taylor Berman taking the loss after allowing an earned run on two hits and two walks, while striking out one in 1/3 of an inning. Offensively, Washington U. was held to five hits, which was the second-fewest in a game this season.
Washington U. (12-6) will try to snap its three-game losing skid on Wednesday when the Bears host Webster University at 3 p.m. at Kelly Field.
Bear Notebook: Washington U. left 17 runners stranded on bases in the game … The Bears had eight batters hit by pitches … The Washington U. pitching staff finished the UAA Tournament with a conference-best 1.64 ERA, allowing 13 earned runs in eight games.