The Emory University baseball team scored four times in the first inning and never looked back as the Eagles won the series finale over WashU by an 11-4 score Sunday afternoon in St. Louis, Missouri.
The Eagles took advantage of 10 walks, two hit-by-pitches and two errors by the Bears to complete the 3-0-1 weekend at Kelly Field. After spoiling WashU's senior day on Sunday, Emory stands 19-14-1 on the season and 6-5-1 in UAA play with five games remaining in the regular season.
All nine Emory batters came to the plate in the top of the first as the Eagles staked claim to a 4-0 lead before most patrons took their seats. Most impressively, Emory scored all four runs without the benefit of a hit as two HBPs, three walks and one WashU error contributed to the scoring.
The four runs were more than enough support for sophomore Adam Geller who earned his first win of the season on the mound. Geller matched his career-high with his second straight six-strikeout performance as he allowed two unearned runs over five innings. He gave up just three hits and one walk and hit two batters.
The Bears got a run back in the bottom of the first but five more runs came across for the Eagles in the fourth and fifth as Emory increased their lead to 9-1.
Senior Jacob Grossman provided a run-scoring double for Emory's lone run in the fourth. In the next frame, junior Matthew Sicoli crossed home plate following an error before freshman Aidan Conley doubled home junior Blake Dincman. Sophomore Zach Wasserlauf added to the scoring with a sac fly that brought home Conley.
WashU scraped across three runs in the fifth and seventh innings but RBIs from Sicoli and graduate Nick Wilson helped keep the Bears at bay.
In the bottom of the ninth, WashU attempted another rally with two hits to put two on with one out. Junior Bennett Speicher was then called upon for the final two outs which he did via a strike out and ground out.
Emory will be idle this upcoming week before returning to the diamond on Tuesday, April 23 with the final non-conference game of the season as the team will host crosstown rival Oglethorpe. First pitch from Chappell Park is set for 3:00 PM.