Softball Sweeps Rhodes, Transylvania Saturday in Memphis

RHODES BOX | TRANSY BOX

Memphis, Tenn., February 23, 2013 – The Washington University in St. Louis softball team opened the 2013 season with a pair of victories Saturday afternoon at the Rhodes College Lynx Classic in Memphis. Washington U. defeated host Rhodes 3-2 in the first game, and then posted a 15-1 five-inning victory over Transylvania University in the nightcap. The victory in game one was the 400th in school history for the Bears.

Washington U. 3, Rhodes 2
After Rhodes jumped to an early 1-0 lead with a run in the bottom of the first, the Bears answered back with a pair of runs on two hits in the third to make it 2-1. Senior Ashley Janssen singled to lead off the inning for the Bears, and then scored after junior Kelsey Neal homered with two outs.

Washington U. added a run in the fifth after back-to-back two-out doubles by sophomore Adrienne White and senior Sondra Polonsky. Rhodes (2-2) added an unearned run in the seventh to round out the scoring.

Neal (1-0) picked up the win on the mound allowing seven hits and one earned run. Washington U. had six hits in the season-opening win, led by freshman Brooke Hofer’s 2-for-3 performance.

Washington U. 15, Transylvania 1 (five innings)
Neal was 3-for-3 with a home run, two runs scored and three RBIs in the game two victory over Transylvania. Hofer (2-for-3, two runs scored, RBI), Janssen (2-for-4, two RBIs, two runs scored) and junior Maggie Mullen (2-for-2, two runs scored) also recorded multiple-hit games for Washington U., who had 13 hits in the win.

Freshman Annie Pitkin and Hofer combined to toss a one-hitter against the Pioneers. Pitkin made the start for Washington U. allowing one hit with three strikeouts in three innings pitched, while Hofer struck out two in two innings pitched allowed an unearned run in the top of the fifth.

The Bears jumped out in front with five runs in their first at-bat. Polonsky drove in a run by reaching on an error to make it 1-0, and then a two-RBI single by junior Stacy Berg pushed the advantage to 3-0. Washington U. pushed the lead to 5-0 after sophomore Sydney Caldwell drove in two runs with two outs.

Washington U. put the game out of reach by scoring eight runs on six hits in the top of the third inning. Neal had the big hit of the inning, driving in three on a two-out home run. The round-tripper for Neal was her second of the day and 11th of her career, 11th most in school history.

In the fourth, Janssen drove in a run on a fielder’s choice and White added an RBI single to round out the scoring for the Bears.

Washington U. (2-0) returns to action Sunday, Feb. 24, with a pair of games against Rhodes at 10 a.m. and Transylvania at Noon.

Bear Notebook: Washington U. is 401-135-1 (.748) in 14 seasons at a varsity program … The Bears are 10-4 all-time in season openers … The home run for Neal in game two pushed her career RBI total to 50 … Hofer (4-for-6) and Neal (4-for-6) are batting .667 through two games.