From Washington University Athletics
Junior Anna McKee tossed a two-hit shutout to lead the Washington University in St. Louis softball team to a 12-0 victory in five innings over Western Connecticut State University in the second game Monday in Leesburg, Fla.
The Bears were limited to a pair of hits in a 2-0 loss to Lake Forest College in the opening game of its six-game Spring Break road trip Monday.
"It was good to see us come back with a solid performance in game two," said WashU head coach Michelle Venturella. "We need to continue to learn from each opportunity so we can play the game consistently at a high level."
Lake Forest 2, WashU 0
Junior Maggie Clapp (2-2) took the loss in game one despite giving up just four hits and two earned runs in 5 2/3 innings pitched. Junior Mackenzie Gauden allowed one hit and struck out two in 1 1/3 innings pitched of relief.
Sophomore Taylor Arends and senior Hannah Mehrle each had a single for the Bears.
Clapp allowed a run in the third on a sac fly, and then gave up a solo home run in the sixth.
WashU 12, Western Connecticut State 0 (Five Innings)
McKee (1-1) allowed two hits and struck out a career-high nine in the game two victory. She did not allow an extra-base hit and had just one walk in the win.
WashU had a season-high 12 hits and took advantage of five errors by Western Connecticut. Arends (2-for-3, three RBIs) and freshman Mikaela Arredondo (2-for-4, three RBIs) each recorded a multi-hit game, while senior Janet Taylor went 1-for-2 with a walk and tied a school record with four runs scored.
The Bears pushed across a run in the top of the first after Taylor scored on an RBI groundout by Arends. WashU took a commanding 4-0 lead by plating three runs in the third. Mehrle drove in a run with a sacrifice fly, and then Arredondo pushed across two with a double to center.
The Bears' advantage grew to 7-0 in the fourth following RBIs by senior Kenzie James, Arends and Arredondo. WashU added five runs in the fifth, highlighted by a two-RBI single to left by Mehrle.
WashU (3-3) takes on Emory and Henry University on Tuesday, March 14, in Minneola, Fla. The Wasps have won 10-straight games and enter with an 11-3 record.
BEAR NOTEBOOK: Venturella is two wins shy of 200 for her career … Mehrle moved into a tie for eighth place in school history in RBIs (108) … Taylor recorded the 55th walk of her career, tied for fourth all-time … Mehrle is second in the UAA in batting average (.588).