WashU Downs Millikin With Early Offense, 3-1
The Washington University in St. Louis baseball team sought to continue the momentum from their season opener in their contest against Millikin on Saturday morning. WashU capitalized on early runs to secure a 3-1 win over the Big Blue.
Both teams put up runs in the first half of the game before the defenses took over, holding each other scoreless from the bottom of the fourth inning onward.
After a scoreless top of the first for the Big Blue, first-year Drew Dillon led off for the Bears and was hit by the first pitch he saw. Sophomore Kevin Stephens followed after Dillon stole second base and earned a walk. On the base on balls, Dillon advanced to third on a wild pitch to put runners on the corners.
Stephens stole second before a single from sophomore Cooper Greene up the middle scored both Dillon and Stephens, giving the Bears a 2-0 lead going into the second inning.
Senior Connor Lindsey led off the bottom of the second with a walk and reached second on a wild pitch. On an attempt to pick Lindsey off at second, the pitcher threw with no one covering second, resulting in an error that allowed Lindsey to take third. Sophomore Miles Birke followed with an RBI groundout to second base that scored Lindsey from third, putting WashU ahead 3-0.
The Big Blue were able to get a run back in the top of the fourth to cut the WashU lead to 3-1.
Despite loading the bases in the top of the fifth and having two runners on in the top of the sixth, Millikin could not break through the Bears' defense. WashU held the Big Blue scoreless and maintained their lead for the rest of the contest, securing the 3-1 win.
Both senior Anthony Equale and sophomore Will Taigen collected a pair of hits for WashU, while senior Shane Pellegrino and first-year Chance Cromer each hit a double to the outfield during the game.
Junior Owen Block earned the save with his 3.0 innings of work, collecting three strikeouts and allowing just one hit. Junior Parker Guthrie earned his first save of the season, pitching the final inning with one strikeout.