From Washington University Athletics
The No. 23-ranked Washington University in St. Louis softball team posted a pair of wins over No. 8-ranked Emory University (3-0) and New York University (7-2) Wednesday at the 2015 University Athletic Association (UAA) Championship Tournament held at the Seminole County Softball Complex in Altamonte Springs, Fla.
Junior Annie Pitkin, the reigning two-time NFCA National Player of the Week, was lights out on the mound in the upset win against Emory allowing just two hits and did not allow a runner past second base. Pitkin tossed her fourth shutout and fifth complete game of the season, and has a 7-1 record with a 0.73 ERA this season. She has 58 strikeouts and just seven walks in 48.0 innings pitched.
Freshman Mackenzie Gauden followed up Pitkin's performance in game two by allowing five hits and two unearned runs in six against New York. Gauden struck out six and did not walk a batter. Gauden has not allowed an earned run in 12 1/3 innings pitching in her rookie campaign.
#23 Washington U. 3, # 8 Emory 0
The Bears put together a string of three-straight hits to start the contest as WashU built a 3-0 advantage after a half of an inning. Senior Paige Biles and sophomore Kenzie James reached on bunt singles against Emory starter Brittany File, and then senior Adrienne White laced a double to right center driving in two. Sophomore Hannah Mehrle reached on a throwing error by File on the ensuing at-bat to allow White to score.
Biles (2-for-3, walk, run scored) and White (2-for-4, two RBIs, run scored) each had multi-hit games for Washington U., who had seven hits in the win. File (6-2) suffered the loss allowing three hits and three runs (two earned) and did not record an out for Emory, which dropped to 11-2, 1-2 in the UAA.
#23 Washington U. 7, New York 2
New York (0-8, 0-4 UAA) took advantage of two errors in the first to score two unearned runs. The Bears responded back with a run in the bottom of the first after Mehrle single up the middle to score Biles. WashU loaded the bases in the third after three-straight singles from freshman Maggie Clapp, Biles and James, but CF Colby Tarsitano robbed White of a grand slam to end the threat.
The Bears batted around in the third scoring four runs on four hits to jump out to a 5-2 lead. Clapp had an RBI single and Wilson walked to drive in a run, and then Biles added a bases loaded walk with two outs. WashU scored a pair of runs in the seventh after an RBI double by White and an RBI groundout by Taylor to round out the scoring.
WashU had 11 hits in the win, its third-highest of the season and fifth double figure total of the season. Biles (2-for-3, RBI, run scored, walk), James (2-for-2, two walks, stolen base, run scored) and Clapp (2-for-3, RBI, run scored) each had multi-hit games.Washington U. (11-3, 3-1 UAA) continues play in the UAA Championship Tournament on Thursday, March 12, at 10 a.m. (ET) against Brandeis University. The Bears sit in a three-way tie for first place in the UAA standings with Case Western Reserve University and the University of Rochester.
BEAR NOTEBOOK: White recorded the 100th RBI of her career vs. Emory … White has also hit safely in 10-straight and reached base in 12-consecutive games … Biles and Mehrle are riding a season-long six-game hit streak … James' steal vs. New York was the 34th of her career, moving into a tie with Ashley Janssen (2010-13) for fifth in school history … Biles leading the tournament in batting average (8-of-14, .571) and hits (eight) … The Bears lead the tourney in team pitching (1.00 ERA) and is third in batting (.313) and sixth in fielding (.944).