From Washington University Athletics
The Washington University in St. Louis baseball team recorded 14 hits and nine walks, and scored nine runs in the final two innings to hold on for a 13-10 win in eight innings at Millsaps College Sunday afternoon.
The Bears broke open a 4-4 tie by sending 13 batters to the plate in a seven-run seventh inning to take an 11-4 lead. Junior Max Golembo reached on an error to start the inning and sophomore CJ Price followed by drawing the first of four walks for WashU in the inning. An RBI single up the middle by senior Chris Lowery made it 5-4 in favor of the Bears, before senior Brian Cizek loaded the bases with a walk. Senior Zack Kessinger was hit by a pitch to score Price, ahead of an RBI single by senior Brandon Deger that extended the lead to 7-4. Junior Kyle Kozak walked, sophomore Scott Nelson hit an RBI single, and senior Andrew Goldstick drew another bases-loaded walk to make it 10-4 in favor of WashU. After Kozak was thrown out at home on a fielder's choice, Price hit a single to third to drive in the Bears' seventh run of the inning. A foul popup and a flyout ended the inning for the Bears.
In the bottom of the seventh, Millsaps took advantage of an error by WashU to score six runs, including four unearned, and trim the lead to 11-10. The Majors loaded the bases with a pair of walks and the error, and drew another walk to score their first run of the inning. A sacrifice fly and a sac bunt added two more runs, before Millsaps' ninth run of the game scored on a throw to first by the Bears. The Majors pulled to within a run of the Bears with a two-out, two-RBI single, before a groundout ended the inning with the Bears leading 11-10.
WashU added a pair of insurance runs in the top of the eighth. Kessinger led off with a single to right field, before Deger was walked. They both moved up a base on a wild pitch, and Nelson delivered a two-RBI double down the left-field line to extend the Bears' lead to 13-10. Millsaps got its leadoff runner on with a single in the bottom of the inning, but sophomore Matt Clohisy retired the next three batters to preserve the Bears' three-run lead and end the inning. The game was called after the eighth inning due to rain, giving WashU the 13-10 win.
The Bears got on the scoreboard in the first inning with two unearned runs. Price hit a one-out single and advanced to second on an error. Lowery followed with a single and stole second, which allowed Price to score on the throw. Kessinger reached on an error with two outs to keep the inning alive, and Deger stroke an RBI single up the middle to make it 2-0 in favor of the Bears. The Majors cut the lead to 2-1 by turning a leadoff double into a run in the bottom of the second inning.
The score remained 2-1 until the top of the fifth. Golembo led off the inning with a walk and stole second, before Price doubled to left field to put two runners in scoring position. After a pitching change by Millsaps, Lowery hit a two-RBI single to right field to extend the Bears' lead to 4-1. The Majors answered with two runs in the bottom of the inning on a two-out, two-run homer that again made it a one-run game. In the bottom of the sixth, Millsaps scored on a wild pitch to tie the game at 4-4.
WashU finished with 14 hits in the game, compared with eight for Millsaps. The teams combined for 17 walks and just five strikeouts. Lowery finished 3-for-5 with three RBIs and two runs scored to lead the Bears, while Price (3-for-4, three runs, walk) and Deger (3-for-4, two runs, two RBIs) also had three hits in the win. Nelson equaled Lowery's three RBIs, finishing 2-for-5 at the plate while also scoring one run.
WashU used six different pitchers in the game. Junior Julian Clarke went 5 2/3 innings in his first start of the season, allowing four runs, three earned, on six hits while striking out three. Sophomore Jake Mintz (1-0) was credited with his first career victory after allowing three runs, including two earned, in 1/3 of an inning of relief. Clohisy held Millsaps scoreless for the final 1 1/3 innings to earn the first save of his career.
Bear Notebook: All nine batters reached base at least once in the game for WashU, including hits by seven different individuals … Kozak extended his hitting streak to eight games, while Kessinger and Lowery both have seven-game hitting streaks … Golembo had two stolen bases in the game, moving him past Bill Rosado (1976-78) for 10th on the Bears' all-time career steals list with 35 … Lowery finished with five RBIs in the Bears' two games this weekend, bringing his career total to 90.