From Washington University Athletics
Freshman Rees Viersen held New York University to one-hit over five innings pitched as he picked up the win during Washington University in St. Louis baseball's 3-0 victory which clinched the Bears opening four-game University Athletic Association (UAA) series at MCU Park.
The Bears improved to 14-8 on the year, including a 3-1 record in UAA play while dropping NYU to 16-4 overall on the year (1-3 UAA). The WashU pitching staff recorded double figure strikeout totals in all three of the Bears wins over the Violets as Viersen and freshman Tim Taguecombined for 10 punch outs Sunday afternoon.
Viersen surrended just one single in five innings of work to pair with six strikeouts and no walks as he improved to 2-0 on the year. Tague concluded the game by recording the final 12 outs, four by strikeout for his second save of the series.
WashU outhit NYU 8-6 in the contest, as senior Auggie Mense and sophomore AJ Dunhamled the Bears with multi-hit performances. Junior Evan Nagel scored two of the Bears runs, including the game-winner in the second.
Nagel reached base to lead off the second inning on a catcher's interference. In the process of stealing second base he reached third on a throwing error and scored one batter later when freshman Mitchell Black's grounder to third allowed him to score.
WashU added a run in the fifth inning on a bases loaded walk by sophomore John Brinkman. Nagel scored his second run of the game in the sixth by working his way to first with a walk before a double by Dunham pushed the Bears lead to 3-0.
The Violets offense came to life with three hits in the bottom of the sixth inning. However, a strikeout and a play at the plate allowed Tague to wiggle out of the jam and maintain the shutout.
Also picking up hits for WashU were sophomore Thomas Gardner, sophomore John Ostrander and freshman Collin Kahal. Following the four-game series against NYU, WashU's strength of schedule moved up to the 15thtoughest in the country according to D3baseball.com's strength of schedule ratio which is two-thirds opponents' winning percentage (OWP) and one-third opponents' opponents' winning percentage (OOWP).