From Washington University Athletics
Freshman Josi Elder recorded the game-winning sacrifice fly in the eighth inning as the No. 3 Washington University in St. Louis softball team remained undefeated with a 5-4 win over Susquehanna University Sunday at the NTC Spring Games in Florida. The Bears also posted a 9-0 six-inning win over Haverford College.
WashU (8-0) has an off day before returning to action Tuesday, March 8, with two games at the 2016 University Athletic Association (UAA) Championship Tournament in Altamonte Springs, Fla. The Bears open tournament play Tuesday against Brandeis University at 10 a.m. (ET) and New York University at 1 p.m. (ET).
#3 WashU 9, Haverford 0 – Six Innings
Senior Annie Pitkin (4-0) allowed one hit and struck out nine in five innings pitched in the game one victory. Pitkin allowed a leadoff hit in the bottom of the fifth for the lone base runner of the game for Haverford.
WashU scored a pair of runs in the second to jump out to a 2-0 lead. Sophomore Hera Tangdrove in a run with a single through the left side. The Bears added two runs in the fifth on an RBI double by Taylor Arends and an RBI single by sophomore Anna McKee.
The Bears put the game out of reach with five runs on three hits in the top of the sixth. Arends drove in two with the second triple of her career. She went 2-for-4 with a career-high three RBIs and two runs scored in the win.
Senior Brooke Hofer (2-for-4, run scored), McKee (2-for-4, RBI) and Tang (2-for-4, RBI) also had a pair of hits in the win. Sophomore Mackenzie Gauden pitched a scoreless sixth for WashU.
#3 WashU 5, Susquehanna 4 – Eight Innings
WashU trailed 2-0 after a half inning of play as Susquehanna scored a pair of runs off sophomore starter Maggie Clapp. Sophomore Ashley Madsen cut the lead in half with a bases loaded walk in the second.
Trailing 3-1, WashU went back to Pitkin and she shut the door keeping Susquehanna scoreless for the next four innings. The Bears tied the game in the seventh as Mehrle drove in a run on a fielder's choice and then Taylor tied the contest with an RBI single.
Susquehanna (0-1) took a 4-3 lead with an unearned run off Pitkin in the eighth after Emilie Homan drove in a run with a single to center. WashU answered right back as junior Halle Steinberg singled to right to drive in the tying run and then advanced to third on an error. Steinberg scored the game-winning run on the sac fly by Elder.
Pitkin (5-0) got the win in relief allowing three hits with nine strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings. Clapp took the no-decision allowing six hits and three earned runs in 2 1/3 innings.
Juniors Hannah Mehrle (2-for-4, RBI, run scored) and Janet Taylor (2-for-4, RBI) had multi-games for WashU. The Bears tied a season-high with two errors.
BEAR NOTEBOOK: Pitkin has not allowed an earned run in 27 2/3 innings pitched this season with 56 strikeouts … James is one hit shy of 100 for her career … Mehrle enters the UAA Championship leading the conference in batting average (.680) … The Bears are off to an 8-0 start for the first time since 2014 and for the seventh time in school history.