WashU Baseball Sweeps Final Nonconference Series

Bears win seven straight games heading into UAA play

Mar. 26, 2026 at 10:26am

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The No. 10 WashU baseball team won all four games against Gustavus Adolphus College on March 21 and 22, while also adding wins over the University of Wisconsin–Platteville and Westminster College to win seven consecutive games going into University Athletic Association (UAA) play.

Why it matters

The Bears' strong performance in their final nonconference series demonstrates their offensive and defensive capabilities, building momentum as they prepare to face conference opponents in the UAA.

The details

In the second game against Gustavus Adolphus, the Bears were down 7-0 before rallying to score six straight runs and win 13-9. The team also won close games against the University of Wisconsin–Platteville and Westminster College, showcasing their ability to win tight contests. Strong pitching and timely hitting have been key to the Bears' success, with players like Kevin Stephens and Miles Birke leading the way offensively.

  • On March 18, the Bears beat the University of Wisconsin–Platteville 8-5.
  • On March 21 and 22, the Bears swept a doubleheader against Gustavus Adolphus College.
  • On March 24, the Bears defeated Westminster College 12-4.
  • The Bears begin UAA play on Friday, March 27, with a four-game series against the University of Chicago Maroons.

The players

Will Taigen

A sophomore outfielder for the WashU baseball team who suffered an injury during the second game of the series against Gustavus Adolphus College.

Anthony Equale

A junior on the WashU baseball team.

Miles Birke

A junior catcher for the WashU baseball team who had a key RBI single in the eighth inning of the first game against Gustavus Adolphus College.

Kevin Stephens

A sophomore outfielder for the WashU baseball team who had a two-run single and a three-run homer during the series against Gustavus Adolphus College.

Shane Pellegrino

A senior shortstop for the WashU baseball team who expressed confidence in the team's pitching, defense, and offense.

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What they’re saying

“It was just pass it off to the next guy. We know everybody [will] do their job and have confidence that your teammates are going to pick us up. And that's exactly what happened, and we were able to pull through.”

— Kevin Stephens, sophomore outfielder

“The offense has been doing a great job picking us up, and we're very appreciative of them just knowing that we have that little bit more slack on our end, the offense will pick us up if we don't do it well.”

— Shane Pellegrino, senior shortstop

“I have all the faith in the world in our pitching staff and our defense and our offense, so I think a lot of it just comes from trust and knowing that when you fail, you got guys that are behind you and they're going to pick you up.”

— Shane Pellegrino, senior shortstop

What’s next

The Bears begin conference play on Friday, March 27, with a four-game series against the University of Chicago Maroons.

The takeaway

The Bears' dominant performance in their final nonconference series, including a dramatic comeback win and strong pitching and hitting, has them well-positioned to carry that momentum into UAA play as they aim to continue their successful season.