Softball Beats Rochester, Falls to Case at UAA Championship
BOX 1 | BOX 2
CHAMPIONSHIP WEBSITE
Altamonte Springs, Fla., March 13, 2012 – The No. 23 ranked Washington University in St. Louis softball team split a pair of games on the opening day of the 2012 University Athletic Association (UAA) Championship Tournament in Altamonte Springs, Fla.
Washington U. scored four runs in the fourth in a 6-4 come from behind victory over the University of Rochester in the opener, and then were limited to two hits in a 4-2 loss to Case Western Reserve University in the second game.
#23 Washington U. 6, Rochester 4
After Rochester (1-2, 0-1 UAA) scored a run in the top of the first, Washington U. answered back with two of its own on a two-RBI double by sophomore Maggie Mullen. The Yellowjackets tacked on three runs on five hits in the third, highlighted by a three-run homerun by Nina Korn to center.
The Bears got things going again offensively in the fourth, scoring four runs on four hits. Washington U. loaded the bases with no one out, and then freshman Adrienne White tied the game with a single to right. Senior Corissa Santos drove in the eventual game-winning run with a single to left, and junior Sondra Polonsky added an RBI groundout in the inning.
Sophomore Kelsey Neal (3-0) picked up the win in in relief allowing just one hit in four innings pitched. Senior Olivia Cook made the start but last just three innings allowing seven hits and four earned runs. Santos was 2-for-4 with an RBI, while junior Hilary Stepansky was 2-for-2 with a walk.
Case Western Reserve 4, #23 Washington U. 2
Case Western Reserve jumped out to a 2-0 lead with a run in each of the first two innings, but Washington U. mustered a run on the board in the third inning. Stepansky walked to leadoff the inning, and then stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Stepansky was caught off third in a rundown, but managed to score after the ball was bobbled by the third baseman.
Washington U. managed just one hit through the first five innings against CWRU starting pitcher Rebecca Taylor. The Bears trimmed the advantage to 3-2 following a sacrifice fly by Santos in the sixth. Case added a run in the seventh to push the lead to 4-2, and then Taylor sat Washington U. down 1-2-3 in the seventh for the win.
Washington University was limited to two hits in the loss by Taylor, who has pitched every inning this season for Case. The Spartans (4-2, 1-0 UAA) had seven hits in the victory. Junior Kathy Peter (1-1) took the loss for Washington U. allowing three runs (one earned) in 4 2/3 innings pitched. Cook allowed one earned run in 1 1/3 innings pitched of relief.
Washington University (7-2, 1-1 UAA) takes the field on Wednesday, March 14, at 12:30 p.m., for its lone game of the day against No. 4 ranked Emory University. The Eagles have a 19-1 overall record and a 2-0 mark in conference play.
Bear Notebook: Washington U. is 22-3 all-time against Rochester and 21-4 against Case Western Reserve … Case had lost 24 straight-UAA games dating back to a 2-1 victory against Emory on March 15, 2008 … Head coach Leticia Pineda-Boutté picked up her 200th career win at Washington U. in the opener … Washington U. had won nine-straight games against Case Western, dating back to 2007.