WashU Shuts Out No. 15 Webster In Seven Innings, 10-0
The Washington University in St. Louis wrapped up their opening weekend of the season in style with a 10-0 run-rule win in seven innings over the No. 15 Webster Gorloks at the USA Stadium Complex.
The zero runs given up marked the first time since WashU won 3-0 during the 2009 season that the Bears did not allow Webster to score a run in a game.
Chance Cromer led off the top of the first and was hit by the second pitch of the game. Then with two outs, senior junior Anthony Equale doubled to deep left-center field, allowing Cromer to race around and score from first, putting the Bears ahead 1-0.
Cromer led off the top of the third with a single and, after a throwing error by the shortstop on sophomore Kevin Stephen's at-bat, WashU had runners at first and second. The bases were then loaded on a second error in the inning for the Gorloks off of a bunt by sophomore Cooper Greene.
With one out, first-year Jacob Witte singled up the middle, scoring both Stephens and Cromer and putting the Bears ahead 3-0 after three innings.
In the top of the sixth, first-year Drew Dillon led off with a blast down the right field line that went into the corner for a triple. Sophomore Will Taigen followed up with a single up the middle, scoring Dillon and putting the Bears up 4-0.
The Bears added two more runs in the inning, beginning with a run from Taigen, who advanced to second when senior Shane Pellegrino was hit by a pitch and reached third on a sacrifice bunt by graduate Josh Erpenbeck.
Taigen crossed the plate when Cromer hit into a groundout to second.
The third run of the sixth came on the next batter when Stephens hit a single up the middle and Pellegrino scored from second, putting the Bears up 6-0.
Witte led off the top of the seventh with the second WashU triple down the right field line of the day. Dillon followed up with a single through the left side, scoring Witte, and the right fielder misplayed it, allowing Dillon to reach third base safely.
Taigen came up next and hit a double deep down the left field line, pushing Dillon across home and putting the Bears ahead 8-0. In a nearly identical spot, Pellegrino slammed a double down the left field line, scoring Taigen for the 9-0 lead with no outs.
After a pitching change, Erpenbeck followed with a single through the right side, followed by another single through the right side by Cromer, scoring Pellegrino from third, giving the Bears a 10-0 lead.
Senior Miles Quemuel-Labrador came in to pitch the bottom of the inning and picked up a pair of strikeouts in a three-up, three-down inning as WashU earned their second 10-0 run-rule game of the season.
The Bears finished with seven players with multiple hits as the team ended with 16 total hits. Pellegrino led the way, going two-for-three at the plate with a pair of doubles, two runs scored, and an RBI. Joining him in the multi-hit club for the afternoon were Cromer, Stephens, Equale, Witte, Dillon, and Taigen. Equale and Taigen each hit a double, while Witte and Dillon each hit a triple for WashU.
Graduate Chase Brickley earned his first win of the season, pitching the first 6.0 innings while collecting seven strikeouts and allowing just two hits.