From Washington University Athletics
The Washington University in St. Louis softball team closed out regular season play by splitting a doubleheader at New York University on Saturday night in Bronx, N.Y.
WashU posted a 4-1 win in the opener, and then had its 10-game win streak snapped with a 2-1 loss in game two.
The Bears have a 26-12 overall record, and won its 10th University Athletic Association (UAA) title with a 11-5 conference mark. NYU dropped to 18-18 and 5-9 in the UAA.
WashU 4, New York 1 – Game One
Junior Anna McKee (16-3) tossed a complete game in the opener allowing four hits and one earned run. McKee did not allow a hit for the first four innings, but Carina Sturm led off the fifth with a single to right.
WashU scored two runs on three hits in its first at-bat to jump in front 2-0. Seniors Hannah Mehrle and Janet Taylordelivered back-to-back RBI doubles for the Bears. Taylor got on again in the third with an infield single, and then scored after junior Hera Tang ripped an RBI double to left.
The Bears added an insurance run in the seventh. Tang led off the inning with a double to left, and then scored on a sac fly by junior Mackenzie Gauden.
Tang went 3-for-4 with a run scored, two doubles and an RBI, while Taylor was 3-for-4 with a run scored, a double and an RBI. WashU had 10 hits in game one, but committed three errors and left 10 runners on base.
New York 2, WashU 1 – Game Two
The Bears had eight hits in game two, but left nine runners on base and did not record an extra-base hit. Senior Kenzie James was 3-for-4 and scored the lone run in game two, while sophomore Taylor Arends and junior Maggie Clapp also added two hits apiece.
WashU scored an unearned run in the third after James and Arends led off the inning with back-to-back bunt singles. James scored on a throwing error by the second baseman. NYU scored two runs on three hits in the fourth to take the 2-1 lead.
The Bears rallied in the seventh loading the bases with two outs, but Scarlett Murphy got Taylor to strikeout to end the game.
Clapp (9-9) took the loss allowing five hits and two runs (one earned) in six innings pitched. She has allowed just four earned runs in the last 47 innings.
The 2017 NCAA Division III Selection Show is set for Monday, May 8, at Noon. The Bears are seeking their 15th NCAA Tournament bid in school history.
BEAR NOTEBOOK: WashU leads the all-time series with New York 7-1 … WashU is 23-4 when scoring first … The Bears have recorded double-digit hits 17 times this season … Mehrle moved into third all-time in doubles (45), runs scored (129) and games played (174) … James moved into sixth all-time in hits (184) … WashU has the No. 1 strength of schedule in NCAA Division III (.640) … McKee leads the UAA in wins, while Mehrle is tops in the conference in RBIs (43) and hits (58).