From Washington University Athletics
The No. 15-ranked Washington University in St. Louis softball team closed out a 10-game homestand with a doubleheader sweep over Greenville College Wednesday afternoon at the WU Softball Field in St. Louis. The Bears won game one 9-0 in five innings, and then posted a 4-1 victory in game two.
Washington U. improved to 23-7 with the two wins, while Greenville fell to 11-8.
#15 WashU 9, Greenville 0 – Five Innings Game One
Junior Annie Pitkin (15-4) was razor sharp in the opener game tossing her 13th complete game of the season allowing one hit with nine strikeouts. Pitkin leads NCAA Division III in wins (15) and strikeouts (153). The win for Pitkin was the 45th of her career, tied for fifth most in school history.
The Bears scored multiple runs in each of the first three innings to jump out to a commanding lead. Senior Adrienne White connected on a three-run homerun in the first to make it 3-0. The homerun for White was her ninth of the season, third most in NCAA Division III this season.
WashU got things going in the second inning after a leadoff double by senior Sydney Caldwell. Senior Alyssa Wilson drove in Caldwell with a double, and then she came around to score after a throwing error by Greenville catcher Tiffany Samsoe.
The Bears scored three runs on five hits in the third inning to extend the advantage to 8-0. Sophomore Hannah Mehrle led off the inning with a triple to right, and then came around to score after an RBI double by junior Brooke Hofer. Caldwell and Wilson followed with back-to-RBI doubles to make it an eight-run game.
Caldwell went 3-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored, while White was 2-for-3 with a homerun, a run scored and three RBIs as Washington U. had 13 hits. Wilson (2-for-3, two RBIs, two doubles, run scored), Mehrle (2-for-3, two triples, two runs scored) and James (2-for-3, run scored) also had multi-hit games for the Bears.
#15 WashU 4, Greenville 1 – Game One
Freshman Maggie Clapp (4-1) picked up the win in game two allowing six hits and one earned run in six innings pitched. Freshman Anna McKee tossed a perfect seventh inning with two strikeouts to pick up her first career save.
WashU broke open a scoreless game in the third inning with three runs on four hits. James and White reached on singles with one out, and then freshman Anna McKee ripped a two-RBI double down the left field line to drive in two runs. Mehrle followed with an RBI double to center to push the advantage to 3-0.
In the fourth, freshman designated player Ashley Madsen led off with a bunt single and then came around to score after junior Brooke Hofer ripped a two-out single to make it 4-0. Greenville added a solo home run in the sixth by Tiffany Samsoe to round out the scoring.
Biles went 3-for-4 and upped her average to .465, tops on the team and fourth in the University Athletic Association (UAA). WashU had 10 hits, its 11th game of the season with double figure hits.
WashU opens an eight-game road trip Saturday, April 4, at Monmouth College. Game one is set for 1 p.m. in Monmouth, Ill.
BEAR NOTEBOOK: WashU leads the all-time series with Greenville 19-1 … White's homerun in game one was the 15th of her career, tied for eighth most in school history … White also moved into fourth in career hits (183), sixth in runs scored (114) and eighth in stole bases (32) … Mehrle became the fourth player in school history to have two triples in a game … Biles has a 13-game hitting streak and reached base in 23-straight games.