Washington University Baseball Edges Hendrix, 6-4
St. Louis, Mo., April 6, 2012 – The Washington University in St. Louis baseball team scored five runs in the fifth and sixth innings to take the lead and held on for a 6-4 win over Hendrix College on Friday afternoon at Kelly Field.
Sophomore Kyle Billig led-off the bottom of the first inning with a line-drive double to left-center field and came around to score on a single up the middle by senior Brandon Rogalski to give Washington U. a quick 1-0 lead. Hendrix battled back to tie the game in the top of the second with a two-out RBI single. The Warriors took the lead, 3-1, with a pair of unearned runs on three hits and an error in the top of the third.
In the bottom of the fifth, the Bears regained the lead (4-3) with three runs on three hits, but left the bases loaded in the inning. Billig walked and freshman Andrew Goldstick singled to left field. They moved up to second and third on a balk, before Rogalski singled to drive in Billig. After freshman Chris Lowery drew a walk to load the bases, junior Andrew Dwoskin hit a two-RBI single to left field to give Washington U. the lead.
The Bears added to their lead when Billig and Goldstick drew back-to-back one-out walks in the bottom of the sixth. Rogalski followed with a two-RBI single to right field that made it 6-3 in favor of Washington U. Hendrix put together a scoring threat in the top of the seventh, loading the bases with one out. The Bears got out of the inning with a pair of fielder's choice hits that left the bases loaded and prevented any runs from scoring.
In the top of the ninth, Hendrix got a lead-off walk and a single to bring the tying run to the plate. After a pitching change by Washington U., the Warriors cut the lead to 6-4 on a fielder's choice. The Bears then got a ground out and a strikeout to end the game.
Junior Taylor Berman pitched eight strong innings for the Bears to improve to 3-1. Berman allowed four runs, including two unearned, on eight hits and four walks, while recording five strikeouts. Freshman Max Zhang earned his second save of the season, with a strikeout in one inning of relief.
Rogalski led the Bears offensively, finishing 3-for-5 with four RBIs and a run. Billig went 2-for-2 with three walks, three runs and two stolen bases, while Dwoskin was 2-for-4 with two RBIs.
Washington U. (22-6) finished out the three-game series against Hendrix (19-12) with a doubleheader at Kelly Field on Saturday. The teams will play a seven-inning game beginning at 11 a.m., followed by a nine-inning game about 30 minutes after the completion of the first game.
Bear Notebook: The win for Washington U. was its 10th in a row and 17th-straight at home … Billig (11 games) and Rogalski (10 games) both extended their hitting streaks … It was Rogalski's 19th multiple-hit game of the season … Billig reached base on all five at-bats for the second time in three games.