Softball Wins Two on Final Day of UAA Championship
BOX 1 | BOX 2
Altamonte Springs, Fla., March 14, 2011 – The Washington University in St. Louis softball team picked up two victories on Monday at the final day of the 2011 University Athletic Association (UAA) Championship in Altamonte Springs, Fla.
Washington U. defeated Brandeis University 10-0 in five innings in the first game, and the closed out the tournament with a 10-2 five-inning victory over Case Western Reserve University. With the two wins on Monday, Washington University secured a second-place finish in the UAA standings, behind first-place Emory University, who posted a perfect 8-0 record. This marks the ninth-straight season the Bears have finished in the top-two of the conference.
The Bears broke open a scoreless game in the third inning against Brandeis by scoring six runs on just three hits, highlighted by two home runs. Junior Alyssa Abramoski’s three-run home run gave Washington U. 4-0 lead, and then senior Claire Voris’ two-run shot pushed the lead to 6-0.
The Bears batted around in the fourth inning and added four runs on three hits to extend the advantage to 10-0. Sophomore Sondra Polonsky drove in a run with an RBI single to right, and then sophomore Alex Fjeldheim doubled home two with a double to the right field corner.
Junior Olivia Cook, who made her third-straight start, tossed a two-hit shutout as she picked up her third win in four days. Cook posted a 3-1 record with a 1.22 earned run average in 23 innings pitched at the UAA Championship. The Bears had seven hits in the win, including a 2-for-3, two RBI performance by Fjeldheim.
Washington University scored all 10 of its runs in a span of three innings against Case Western Reserve. The Bears had 10 hits in the victory, including three extra-base hits. Abramoski went 3-for-3 with two RBIs and two runs scored, while junior Corissa Santos was 2-for-3 with a home run and a career-best four RBIs.
Santos’ home run to left field in the second gave Washington U. the early 2-0 lead. The home run for Santos was the ninth of her career and second in the last two days. The Bears scored two more runs in the third, as Polonsky had an RBI single to right.
Washington U. did all of its damage in the bottom of the fourth inning, scoring six runs on three hits and taking advantage of one Case errors. Abramosky had a two RBI double to right center, and then scored following a walk from sophomore Alex Fjeldheim. Santos added two more RBIs on a single to center to push the lead to 10-2.
Sophomore Kathy Peter (3-1) picked up the win on the mound, allowing seven hits and two earned runs, while Voris pitched a perfect fifth inning.
Mullen (.619, two RBIs), Polonsky (.526, nine RBIs), Abramoski (.500, three home runs, nine RBIs) and Fjeldheim (.471, one home run, seven RBIs) each hit over .400 at the eight-game UAA Championship for Washington University. The Bears had a .371 team batting average and only committed seven errors.
Washington University (9-4-1, 6-2 UAA) completes its 10-game road trip to Florida with a pair of games on Tuesday, march 15, at the NTC Games. Washington U. takes on Oswego State University at 9:30 a.m. (ET) and Keene State University at 11:30 a.m.