From Washington University Athletics
Junior John Howard held Brandeis University to one run in a complete game 11-1 victory for the Washington University in St. Louis baseball team, as the Bears totaled 15 hits including home runs by sophomore John Brinkman and freshman Johnny LaMantia at Kelly Field Thursday afternoon.
The Bears improved to 18-14 on the year, including 7-6 in University Athletic Association (UAA) play while the Judges fell to 3-22 (1-12 UAA). WashU's 15 hits are the most since it totaled 18 in a 15-2 win against then No. 11-ranked Oswego.
Howard totaled a career-high 10 strikeouts in his complete game victory, holding the Judges to six hits and no walks. Brinkman finished a triple shy of hitting for the cycle and nearly did so in walk off fashion as his double in the bottom of the eighth inning was ripped into left field, and knocked in freshman Sean Robinson to push the Bears ahead by 10 runs which concluded the game.
Howard worked around a leadoff single in the top half of the first as sophomore Thomas Gardner's throw to second base caught a potential base stealer to end the threat. Brinkman provided the spark in the bottom half of the first with a two run home run to deep left field that also plated junior Evan Nagel.
Howard struck out the side in the second inning before the Bears tacked on another run. Three consecutive hits by sophomore Brian Schutter, LaMantia and sophomore John Ostrander's run-scoring infield base knock put WashU ahead by three.
A single by freshman Collin Kahal sparked a two-out three run tally by the Bears in the fourth inning. Senior Auggie Mense hit a flyball that was misplayed by the left fielder, allowing Kahal to score before Nagel's line drive to right field allowed him to score. Brinkman hit his first of two doubles into deep centerfield to drive in Nagel and give WashU a 6-0 edge.
Freshman Henry Singer led the fifth inning off with a single which was followed by LaMantia's homer to right field, increasing the Bears' lead to 8-0. However, Brandeis' Mike Kohoury hit a one-out home run in the seventh inning to end Howard's shutout attempt.
Back-to-back singles in the eighth inning keyed WashU's run rule victory as it chased the Judges starting pitcher from the game. LaMantia scored on a balk by the relief pitcher. Robinson followed with an RBI single to left field that plated Ostrander, before scoring on Brinkman's game ending double.
WashU had four players finish with multiple hits led by Brinkman's four. Also tallying multi-hit games were LaMantia (3-for-4), Ostrander (2-for-4) and Nagel (2-for-5).
Howard's earned run average for the season slightly crept over 1.00, as his season mark presently sits at 1.01. In 11 appearances on the mound, he has allowed more than one earned run once this season.Iin a 5-4 win (3/10/18) over then No. 21 Wheaton (Mass.), Howard totaled seven innings with two earned runs surrendered.
The Bears and Judges will continue the UAA four-game series with a single game on Friday, April 27 at 3 p.m. Be sure to stay up to date on all your Bears scores and awards by following @WashUBears on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
BEAR NOTEBOOK
• WashU is ranked seventh in the Central Regional Rankings which were announced Thursday
• The Bears played errorless baseball for the second time this season
• WashU has the third most difficult schedule according to D3baseball.com (.591)
• Brad Margolin will be honored prior to Friday's 3 p.m. contest against Brandeis for his 2017 American Baseball Coaches' Association (ABCA) / Rawlings Gold Glove