WashU coach Pat Bloom talks strategy with pitcher Sebastian Guzman during Friday’s UAA game against NYU. (Photo: Primo Greenway)
| NCAA Baseball | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NYU (13-4, 0-1) | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 10 | 0 |
| WashU (15-8, 1-0) | 2 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | X | 9 | 11 | 2 |
WP: Sebastian Guzman – WashU (2-0) LP: Morello – NYU (5-1) SV: Hank Weiss – WashU (3)
Steven Millbrook
Staff Writer
CLAYTON, MO — The Washington University baseball team opened University Athletic Association (UAA) play on Friday, with a 9-7 series opening win over New York University in a game Kelly Field.
WashU scored all nine of its runs in the first four innings and then held on late against an NYU team that had won seven of its last eight games.
Four WashU players had two hits and senior Zac Malis hit his second home run of the season to power the Bear offense, which struggled some in its previous series against nationally-ranked Wisconsin-La Crosse.
On Friday though, the Bears seemed ready to explode almost from the get-go.
Shane Pellegrino led off the game with a hit and eventually scored on a hit by Clayton Miller. After another hit and a walk, Miller later scored on a sacrifice fly to put WashU up 2-0.
Malis led off the bottom of the second inning with a deep fly homer to left to put the Bears up 3-0. But WashU wasn’t done. The Bears sent eight more batters to plate, got four more hits, and scored three more runs to lead 6-0 heading into the third inning.
NYU scored four runs to get back into the game, but WashU answered by scored three runs in the bottom of the fourth to go ahead 9-4.
From there, the Bears did what they could to hold on.
Starting pitcher Sebastian Guzman lasted five innings and gave up just the four runs on five hits, with two walks and five strikeouts to get the win. The sophomore righthander is now 2-0 on the season.
Fellow sophomore Hank Weiss pitched the final four innings. He gave up three runs on five hits, with one walk and four strikeouts. His effort earned him his third save of the season.
On the offensive side, Pellegrino, Miller, Evan Minarovic, and Dax Braemer were the players to each get two hits. Minarovic, Braemer, and Sam Polk each had two runs batted in.
The win ended a three-game losing streak for the Bears, who are now 15-8 on the season.
The two clubs will play Games 2 and 3 of their series in a doubleheader on Saturday. First pitch for the opener at Kelly Field is set for noon.
The final game of the series will be played on Sunday.
SCORING SUMMARY
| Logo | Team | Inning | Play Description | NYU | WASHU |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | WASHU | 1st | C. Miller singled down the lf line, RBI; H. Mauterer scored. | 0 | 1 |
| WASHU | 1st | D. Braemer lined out to cf, sacrifice fly, RBI; E. Minarovic advanced to third; C. Miller scored. | 0 | 2 |
| WASHU | 2nd | Z. Malis homered to left field, RBI. | 0 | 3 |
| WASHU | 2nd | E. Minarovic doubled down the lf line, 2 RBI; H. Mauterer scored; S. Pellegrin scored. | 0 | 5 |
| WASHU | 2nd | D. Braemer singled to shortstop, RBI; B. Mazone advanced to third; E. Minarovic scored. | 0 | 6 |
 | NYU | 3rd | NArgenziano singled to left field, RBI; Barbet scored. | 1 | 6 |
| NYU | 3rd | Pallotta singled to center field, RBI; Dunn advanced to third; NArgenziano scored. | 2 | 6 |
| NYU | 3rd | Beggy doubled to left center, 2 RBI; Pallotta scored; Dunn scored. | 4 | 6 |
| WASHU | 4th | B. Mazone advanced to second; E. Minarovic advanced to third; C. Miller scored on a wild pitch. | 4 | 7 |
| WASHU | 4th | S. Polk singled to right field, 2 RBI; B. Mazone scored; E. Minarovic scored. | 4 | 9 |
| NYU | 6th | Barbet doubled to left center; Oliveira advanced to third, scored on an error by cf. | 5 | 9 |
| NYU | 6th | Blueweiss doubled to left center, RBI; Barbet scored. | 6 | 9 |
| NYU | 9th | Pallotta singled up the middle, RBI; NArgenziano scored. | 7 | 9 |
WASHU BEARS 2024 BASEBALL SCHEDULE
| Date | Time | At | Opponent | Location | Tournament |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 30, 2024 (Saturday) | 12 p.m. | Home | New York University | Kelly Field | |
| March 30, 2024 (Saturday) | 3 p.m. | Home | New York University | Kelly Field | |
| March 31, 2024 (Sunday) | 11 a.m. | Home | New York University | Kelly Field | |
| April 3, 2024 (Wednesday) | 3 p.m. | Home | Fontbonne University | Kelly Field | |
| April 10, 2024 (Wednesday) | 3 p.m. | Home | Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology | Kelly Field | |
| April 12, 2024 (Friday) | 3 p.m. | Home | Emory University | Kelly Field | |
| April 13, 2024 (Saturday) | 12 p.m. | Home | Emory University | Kelly Field | |
| April 13, 2024 (Saturday) | 3 p.m. | Home | Emory University | Kelly Field | |
| April 14, 2024 (Sunday) | 11 a.m. | Home | Emory University | Kelly Field | |
| April 19, 2024 (Friday) | 3 p.m. EST | Away | Brandeis University | Boston, Mass. | |
| April 20, 2024 (Saturday) | 12 p.m. EST | Away | Brandeis University | Boston, Mass. | |
| April 20, 2024 (Saturday) | 3 p.m. EST | Away | Brandeis University | Boston, Mass. | |
| April 21, 2024 (Sunday) | 11 a.m. EST | Away | Brandeis University | Boston, Mass. | |
| April 26, 2024 (Friday) | 3 p.m. EST | Away | Case Western Reserve University | Cleveland, Ohio | |
| April 27, 2024 (Saturday) | 12 p.m. EST | Away | Case Western Reserve University | Cleveland, Ohio | |
| April 27, 2024 (Saturday) | 3 p.m. EST | Away | Case Western Reserve University | Cleveland, Ohio | |
| April 28, 2024 (Sunday) | 11 a.m. EST | Away | Case Western Reserve University | Cleveland, Ohio | |
| May 17-19, 2024 | TBA | Neutral | NCAA Regionals | TBA | NCAA Regionals |
| May 24-26, 2024 | TBA | Neutral | NCAA Super Regionals | TBA | NCAA Super Regionals |
| May 31-June 6, 2024 | TBA | Neutral | NCAA Division III World Series | Eastlake, Ohio | NCAA Division III World Series |