From Washington University Athletics
Senior Janet Taylor went 3-for-5 and drove in two runs and recorded the 100th RBI of her career as the Washington University in St. Louis softball team posted a 15-5 win over Emory and Henry University on Tuesday in Minneola, Fla.
WashU recorded a season-high 22 hits in the win, two shy of the single-game school record.
The Bears improved to 4-3 with the victory, while Emory and Henry had its 11-game win streak snapped and fell to 12-4.
"Today was an overall good team win," said WashU head coach Michelle Venturella. "Our pitching was solid and our offense ended up doing a great job making adjustments. We need to build off of today and keep moving forward as a team."
Sophomore Taylor Arends went 4-for-5 with four RBIs and three runs scored, while senior Hannah Mehrle was 3-for-5 with four RBIs and two runs scored. Freshman Amy Walsh also collected four hits (4-for-4) with a pair of runs scored.
WashU scored two runs on four hits in the first inning to jump in front 2-0. Taylor and freshman Mikaela Arredondo had RBI singles for the Bears. Senior Kenzie James walked, stole second and scored on an RBI single by Arends in the second to push the lead to 3-0.
Emory and Henry chipped away with a solo homerun and an unearned run in the third to trim the advantage to 3-2. The Wasps added two more runs in the fifth to grab the 4-3 lead.
WashU score four runs on five hits in the sixth to take the lead for good. Freshman pinch-hitter Michaela Morhausdrove in a run with a RBI single to left, and then Arends drove in a run with a single to left. The hit for Morhaus was the first of her career. Mehrle followed with a two-RBI double to left to make it 7-4.
The Bears scored eight runs on 10 hits in the top of the seventh to put the game out of reach. Arends and Mehrle each had two RBIs in the inning.
Junior Maggie Clapp (3-2) picked up the win in relief allowing five hits and two earned runs in five innings pitched. Junior Anna McKee made the start and allowed five hits and one earned run in two innings.
WashU returns to action with two games on Wednesday, March 15, in Leesburg, Fla. against Smith College (8 a.m.) and Amherst College (10:30 a.m.).
BEAR NOTEBOOK: Venturella is one win shy of 200 for her career … James moved into eighth in school history in runs scored (115) … Mehrle moved into eighth in career RBIs (112) and 10th in total bases (255).