From Washington University Athletics
Junior Anna McKee drove in the game-winning run and also picked up the win on the mound as the Washington University in St. Louis softball team posted a 4-3 win over Case Western Reserve University in game one of a doubleheader Saturday. The Spartans posted an 8-7 win in 10 innings in game two.
WashU and Case Western Reserve each have a 16-11 overall record. The Spartans moved into first place in the University Athletic Association (UAA) standings, while WashU is in second with a 4-4 mark.
Junior Hera Tang went 4-for-6 with a homerun and two RBIs in the doubleheader. Tang has hit safely in the last six games, and raised her batting average to .339.
WashU 4, CWRU 3 – Game One
McKee (10-3) picked up the win on the mound in game one allowing four hits and three runs (one earned) in a complete-game victory. She also delivered the game-winning hit with a single to right field in the bottom of the seventh.
Tang's solo homerun gave WashU the 1-0 advantage. The HR was Tang's first of the season and second of her career. The Spartans answered with an unearned run in the third following a passed ball and a wild pitch.
WashU took advantage of an error by CWRU in the third to get the run back. Senior Halle Steinberg reached on an error and then moved to second on a bad throw. She scored on an RBI single to left by sophomore Taylor Arends to make it 2-1.
WashU added a run in the fourth after Taylor stole home to increase the advance to 3-1. McKee remained in control on the mound until the seventh. CWRU pushed across two runs on three hits to tie the game after back-to-back sac flies.
Tied at 3-3, freshman Amy Walsh led off the seventh with an infield single and then Tang single to right to push Walsh to third before McKee drove in the game-winner.
Tang (2-for-3, run scored, homerun, RBI) and Walsh (2-for-3, run scored) each had multi-hit games for WashU, who recorded seven hits in the win.
Case 8, WashU 7 (10 Innings) – Game Two
The Spartans scored two runs on two hits off WashU junior starter Mackenzie Gauden in the first to jump out in front 2-0.
WashU scored four runs on four hits in the third to take the 4-2 lead. Arends led off the inning with a triple, and then scored on an RBI single by senior Hannah Mehrle. McKee added an RBI single up the middle, and then Walsh drove in a run with an RBI groundout.
CWRU answered right back with three runs on a pair of hits in the fourth to grab the 5-4 lead. Nicole Doyle drove in two runs with her third double of the game.
The Bears got the lead right back after Arends doubled off the right field wall to drive in junior Maggie Clapp, and then Mehrle laced an RBI single to right to make it 6-5. Doyle launched a homerun to left to tie the game at 6-6 and send to extra innings.
Grace Tritchler connected on her team-leading sixth homerun of the year in the 10th inning to give the Spartans a run-advantage. Tang added a two-out RBI single to right in the 10th.
Mehrle went 2-for-5 with two runs scored and two RBIs, while Arends and Tang added two hits apiece. The Bears had 10 hits but committed a season-high four errors.
BEAR NOTEBOOK: WashU leads the all-time series with CWRU 27-10 … Mehrle is now third all-time in hits (210) and 11 shy of tying the school record … Mehrle moved into seventh in school history in RBIs (129) and eighth in doubles (37) … WashU is 15-3 when scoring first, and 1-8 when the opponent scores first … James stole two bases to move into a tie for second all-time (65) … The Bears are 1-2 in extra inning games this season.