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Washington University Sweeps Pair of Ranked Opponents in Minnesota

Washington University Sweeps Pair of Ranked Opponents in Minnesota
Posted: Mar 04, 2017

From Washington University Athletics

A day after scoring just one run in two games, the Washington University in St. Louis softball team had its bats come alive in a pair of wins over ranked teams Saturday at the Luther Dome Games in Rochester, Minn.

The Bears had nine hits in a 9-6 win over No. 22 University of St. Thomas, and then had 11 hits in a 6-0 shutout victory over No. 15 St. Catherine University in game two.

"Today was a step in the right direction for our team. We saw solid pitching and defense and had several quality at bats," said WashU head coach Michelle Venturella. "We just need to stick to the process and continue to get better every day."

Senior Hannah Mehrle went 5-for-6 with three doubles, three RBIs and two runs scored in the two wins. Mehrle moved into seventh in school history in hits (176).

WashU 9, #22 St. Thomas (Minn.) 6
The Bears scored two runs in its first at-bat after freshman Mikaela Arredondo and junior Hera Tang recorded RBIs. Leading 2-1 in the third, Arends drove in a run with a sac fly and then added an RBI single in the fifth to make it 4-1. 

Junior Anna McKee limited St. Thomas to just one run in the first four innings, but got in some trouble in the fifth as the Tommies scored five runs to take the 6-4 lead. 

WashU answered right back scoring five runs on three hits in the sixth to take a commanding 9-6 advantage. Mehrle doubled to left to drive in a run, and then Arredondo singled in a run to tie the game. Tang followed with the big hit of the game, a bases loaded triple to center.

Junior Maggie Clapp picked up the win in relief allowing two hits and one unearned run in three innings pitched.  Mehrle went 3-for-3 with two runs scored and an RBI, while senior Kenzie James was 1-for-2 with three walks and tied a school record with four runs scored. 

WashU 6, #15 St. Catherine 0
Clapp (2-1) tossed the third complete-game of her career in game two, allowing five hits with one strikeout. She did not allow an extra-base hit in the win.

WashU scored two runs in the first inning after a bases loaded walk by Arends and a sac fly by Arredondo.
The Bears added an unearned run in the fourth, and then put the game out of reach with three runs in the sixth. Senior Janet Taylor drove in a run with a double, and then Mehrle followed with a two-RBI double.
Clapp (2-for-3, run scored), James (2-for-3, two runs scored), Mehrle (2-for-3, two RBIs) and freshman Amy Walsh(2-for-3, run scored) all had multi-hit games for WashU, who had a season-high 11 hits in the win. 

WashU has eight days off before opening its Spring Break trip on Monday, March 13, against Lake Forest College. The Bears will play six games in Florida.

BEAR NOTEBOOK: WashU is 2-2 against ranked teams this year … James moved into third in school history in stolen bases (59) and 10th in runs scored (111) … Taylor is one RBI shy of 100 in her career … Venturella is three wins shy of 200 for her career … Clapp moved into 10th place all-time in wins (17), complete games (8), shutouts (3) and strikeouts (111) … The Bears hit .262 in the four games and recorded a 1.56 earned run average … Mehrle leads the UAA with a .636 batting average, while Clapp is tops in ERA (0.46).