The WashU Bears are 10-4 on the season. (Photo: Primo Greenway)
| NCAA Baseball | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WashU (10-4) | 5 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 8 | 1 |
| Rhodes (9-8) | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | X | 10 | 11 | 0 |
Steven Millbrook
Staff Writer
MEMPHIS, TN — The Washington University baseball team saw its win streak halted at five by Rhodes College as the Lynx won a back-and-forth contest, 10-9, on Wednesday.
WashU smacked three home runs in the top of the first inning, and added runs in the third and fifth innings. But it wasn’t enough, as Rhodes scored runs in every inning but the fifth to pull out the victory.
With the loss, WashU’s record now sits at 10-4, while Rhodes’ record upped to 9-8 on the year.
On the offensive side of the ball, juniors Brandon Buday and Dax Braemer combined to notch half of WashU’s hits (four). Rhodes outhit WashU by a final tally of 11-8.
Sophomore Shane Pellegrino, picking up right where he left off just 21 hours ago, belted a line drive homer to left on the first pitch he saw in the first inning. With Pellegrino’s third homer of the season, WashU took the early 1-0 cushion.
Still in the first, after back-to-back walks from junior Braden Mazone and senior Clayton Miller, senior Kaden Bernhard stepped up to the plate and deposited a three-run home run to left center. In the at bat, Bernhard fell behind 0-2, fouled off a pitch to stay alive, then sent his first home run of the season well over the fence to push WashU’s cushion to 4-0.
However, the Bears’ bats were not done in the first. Braemer roped a line drive round-tripper over the left field fence for his second homer in as many days. With the solo shot, WashU raced out to the 5-0 advantage as Rhodes’ coach signaled to the bullpen for a pitching change.
The Lynx responded with three in the bottom half of the first to trim WashU’s lead to a pair, 5-3, after one inning of play.
Rhodes tallied two runs in the bottom of the second to even the score at 5-5.
In the top of the third, Miller walked and Braemer notched a single through the left side to set up first and second, with one out. Senior Magnus Dunn fought off several tough offerings before he secured an RBI single through the left side as Miller dove in safely just before the throw to give WashU the 6-5 lead.
After the base knock, graduate student Evan Minarovic drew a walk, Buday manufactured a two RBI single, with Braemer and Dunn scoring to push WashU ahead by three, 8-5.
Pellegrino showcased his defensive prowess in the bottom of the third. With the bases empty, Rhodes sent a groundball up the middle where Pellegrino took a step to his left, dove, got to his feet and fired a short hop to Braemer at first. Braemer completed the play with a nify pick to beat the runner by a step. With the web gem, Pellegrino and the Bears clung to the 8-5 lead as the game progressed to the fourth.
Rhodes tagged WashU for a two out, solo, home run to trim WashU’s cushion to two, 8-6, after four innings of play.
WashU got the run back in the top of the fifth. Minarovic drew a two out walk and later stole second to get himself into scoring position. Buday then drove in Minarovic on an RBI double to put WashU in front by three, 9-6.
Rhodes notched two runs in the bottom of the sixth to cut WashU’s lead to one, 9-8.
The Lynx manufactured one run in the seventh and eighth to take the one-run, 10-9, advantage.
Looking for another comeback, WashU went down in order in the top of the ninth as Rhodes took the final game of the series, 10-9.
The Bears will return home to Kelly Field for a four-game set with Gustavus Adolphus College, Saturday-Sunday, March 16-17. The two teams will play a doubleheader each day, with contest times set for 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.
WASHU BEARS 2024 BASEBALL SCHEDULE
| Date | Time | At | Opponent | Location | Tournament |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 16, 2024 (Saturday) | 11 a.m. | Home | Gustavus Adolphus College | Kelly Field | |
| March 16, 2024 (Saturday) | 2 p.m. | Home | Gustavus Adolphus College | Kelly Field | |
| March 17, 2024 (Sunday) | 11 a.m. | Home | Gustavus Adolphus College | Kelly Field | |
| March 17, 2024 (Sunday) | 2 p.m. | Home | Gustavus Adolphus College | Kelly Field | |
| March 20, 2024 (Wednesday) | 3 p.m. | Away | Webster University | Sauget, Ill. / Grizzlies Ballpark | |
| March 23, 2024 (Saturday) | 12 p.m. | Home | Wisconsin-La Crosse | Kelly Field | |
| March 23, 2024 (Saturday) | 3 p.m. | Home | Wisconsin-La Crosse | Kelly Field | |
| March 24, 2024 (Sunday) | 12 p.m. | Home | Wisconsin-La Crosse | Kelly Field | |
| March 29, 2024 (Friday) | 3 p.m. | Home | New York University | Kelly Field | |
| 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 |