Washington U. Offense Explodes for 21-8 Upset of No. 16 Buena Vista
BOX SCORE
St. Louis, Mo., March 2, 2012 – The Washington University in St. Louis baseball team recorded 21 hits and took advantage of eight errors by Buena Vista University to earn a 21-8 win over the No. 16-ranked Beavers on Friday afternoon at Kelly Field.
After falling behind 1-0 in the top of the first inning, Washington U. sent 14 batters to the plate to score nine runs on eight hits and three errors in the bottom of the inning. Sophomore Kyle Billig was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning, and scored on a triple to right-center by sophomore Dylan Reid. Senior Brandon Rogalski followed with an RBI single to make it 2-0. After freshman Zack Kessinger doubled to right-center, sophomore Andrew Dwoskin reached on an error. Freshman Chris Lowery followed with single before junior David Madson made it 4-1 with a two-RBI double to right field. An error by Buena Vista allowed Lowery to score, and junior Greg Gleicher extended Washington U.’s lead to 6-1 with an RBI groundout to second. Goldstick and Reid hit back-to-back singles, and Reid drew a walk to keep the inning going. Rogalski singled to left field for his second RBI of the inning, and Reid scored on an error by the Beavers’ first baseman to make it 9-1 before BVU was able to get out of the inning.
Buena Vista scored a run on one hit and an error in the top of the second to make it 9-2, before Washington U. scored an unearned run in the bottom of the inning to make it 10-2. The Bears added another run on a triple by Kessinger in the bottom of the third to extend their lead to 11-2.
The Beavers closed to within 11-8 with six runs on four hits in the top of the fifth. In the bottom of the inning, Washington U. scored four runs, including three unearned, on two hits and two errors. The Bears made it 20-8 with five runs, including four unearned, on five hits and an error in the bottom of the sixth. Washington U. added one more unearned run in the bottom of the seventh to make it 21-8. The game was called in the eighth inning due to darkness.
Kessinger led the Bears offensively, going 4-for-4 at the plate with two walks, an RBI and three runs scored. Reid and Rogalski finished with three hits each, and combined for three RBI and six runs. Madson finished 2-for-5 with a team-high four RBI and two runs scored. Dwoskin and freshman Andrew Goldstick added two hits each. Junior Max Gordon picked up the win for the Bears, allowing one earned run on three hits in 2 2/3 innings.
Washington U. (2-3) is scheduled to play a pair of games on Saturday at Kelly Field. The Bears face No. 13 College of St. Scholastica (0-0) at Noon, followed by another game against Buena Vista (1-2) at 3 p.m.
BEAR NOTEBOOK: Washington U. scored 12 unearned runs in the game … Rogalski’s three hits in the game brought his career total to 147, which is three shy of 10th-place on the all-time career list … He also needs just three RBI to move into a tie for 10th on the all-time career list … Billig had one stolen base in the game to move into fifth on the Washington U. all-time career list with 37, and is four shy of fourth place.