Matt RubinWith a 9-3 win over Illinois Wesleyan, the Washington University men’s baseball team moved its record to 30-5 for the year. It was the team’s ninth straight victory.
The win came largely as a result of nine great innings pitched by junior starter Brent Buffa, four hits from senior outfielder Jim Haley, and a grand slam by senior catcher Alan Germano.
The game started off slow for both teams until the second inning when Illinois Wesleyan, the home team, came out strong with three runs. Those three would be their only runs of the game, however. From there on out, though, it was all Bears.
Held hitless until the fifth inning, the bats woke up big time in the seventh inning when the red and green scored three runs, tying the score. Seniors Bryan Brown and Jim Haley both singled to bring in runs and junior second baseman David Kramer scored on a wild pitch. Junior outfielder Andy Shields homered in the eighth to give the Bears a one-run lead. The Bears put the game away in the ninth inning with a five-run effort thanks to an RBI single by senior shortstop Ryan Corning and a grand slam by Germano.
While Illinois Wesleyan went through five pitchers on the day, Buffa went the distance for the University to remain undefeated on the year. His record now stands at 9-0.
Earlier in the week, it was announced that the Bears had entered the American College Baseball Coaches Top 30. The squad checked in at 28th in the most recent poll. The current nine-game winning streak is the longest of the season and with this win, the team is now only two wins away from tying the Bear’s best single season record, which was achieved last year when they went 32-10.
The Bears will be at home on Monday with a 1 PM game against Illinois College and on Tuesday with a 2 PM game against Westminster College.