From Washington University Athletics
A day after being shutout in two games at Emory University, the Washington University in St. Louis softball team responded with a pair of wins Saturday in Atlanta to split the series with the Eagles.
Junior Anna McKee tossed a complete game in an 8-0 win in game one, and then senior Hannah Mehrle delivered the game-winning hit in the eighth inning in a 10-8 come-from-behind win in game two.
WashU 8, Emory 0 – Game One
McKee (6-2) allowed six hits and struck out three en route to her sixth complete game of the year. She limited the Eagles to just two extra base hits in the win.
Sophomore Josi Elder singled up the middle in the second to give the Bears the early 1-0 lead. WashU scored four runs in the fourth to push the advantage to 5-0. Elder and seniors Halle Steinberg and Kenzie James had RBIs in the inning.
WashU added three runs in the seventh following a two-RBI triple to right by sophomore Taylor Arends and an RBI single up the middle by freshman Mikeala Arredondo.
Arends (2-for-3, three runs scored, two RBIs), Elder (2-for-3, run scored, two RBIs) and Arredondo (2-for-3, run scored, RBI) combined to have all six hits for WashU.
WashU 10, Emory 8 (Eight Innings) – Game Two
With the game tied at 8-8 in the 8th, Mehrle drove in two runs with a single to left to deliver the game-winning hit and complete the sweep on Saturday.
Mehrle went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and three RBIs, while Taylor was 2-for-5 with a run scored and three RBIs. The Bears had nine hits and took advantage of four errors.
Junior Ashley Madsen tripled to lead off game two, and then came around to score on an RBI single by Mehrle. Arends followed with an RBI single to right to push the lead to 2-0.
Mehrle's sac fly to right in the second drove in Steinberg, and then Taylor roped a two-RBI triple to right to make it 5-0. Taylor scored on a wild pitch to extend the lead to 6-0.
Emory (21-11, 4-4 UAA) clawed back into the game following a three-run homerun to right by Taylor Forte in the third to make it 6-3. The Eagles added another run after a double, but junior Maggie Clapp ended the threat with a groundout.
Emory regained the lead by scoring four runs in the fourth to take the 8-6 lead.
WashU trailed by two runs until the seventh. Madsen led off with a walk, and then Mehrle followed with an infield single. The hit for Mehrle was the 200th of her career. Senior Janet Taylor singled to drive in Madsen, and then Mehrle came around to score on an error.
McKee (7-2) picked up the win in relief allowing six hits and four earned runs in five innings. Clapp made the start and gave up five hits and four earned runs in three innings.
BEAR NOTEBOOK: WashU leads the all-time series with Emory 21-17 … Taylor has reached base in 14-straight games … WashU is 12-2 when scoring first … Mehrle moved into eighth in school history in runs scored (115) … Taylor's triple in game two was the seventh of her career, tied for seventh all-time.