Softball Sweeps Hendrix, Spalding in Arkansas to Open 2012 Season

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Conway, Ark., March 3, 2012 – The Washington University in St. Louis softball team opened the 2012 season with a pair of wins over host Hendrix College and Spalding University on Saturday at the Warrior Spring Fling in Conway, Ark. The Bears outlasted Hendrix 13-9 in the opener, before posting a 7-3 win over Spalding in the nightcap.

Washington U. 13, Hendrix 9
The Bears jumped all over the host school with four runs on five hits in the first inning. Junior Sondra Polonsky, sophomore Maggie Mullen, freshman Alyssa Wilson and Adrienne White each had RBIs for the Bears in the opening frame. Washington U. pushed the advantage to 6-0 in the second after a two-run home run by Abramoski.

Hendrix (0-1) cut the lead in half with three runs in the bottom of the third, but Washington U. answered back with three runs in the fourth and four in the sixth to push the advantage to 13-6. The Bears had 18 hits in the win, 16 of which were singles. Polonsky had a career day at the plate going 5-for-5 with two RBIs and two runs scored, while White was 3-for-4 with two RBIs in her first collegiate start.

Senior Olivia Cook picked up the win allowing three earned runs in six innings pitched. The victory for Cook was the 31st of her career. Junior pitcher Kathy Peter was roughed up for three earned runs in the seventh inning.

Washington U. 7, Spalding 3
Washington University scored five runs in the second inning to jump out to a commanding 5-1 lead. Senior Alyssa Abramoski had the big hit of the inning for Washington U., a bases loaded double which drove in three runs. Sophomore Kelsey Neal and senior Corissa Santos added RBI doubles for the Bears in the second.

Washington U. held onto a 5-3 lead in the sixth when they added two insurance runs following an RBI triple by Abramoski and an RBI double by Santos.

Abramoski was 2-for-4 with four RBIs in the win, while Santos added two hits and two RBIs. White and Neal also added two hits apiece for the Bears. Neal picked up the first win of her career tossing a complete game. She allowed four hits and three earned runs while striking out nine in the first start.

Washington University (2-0) closes out play at the Warrior Spring Fling on Sunday, March 4, with a pair of games against the same two teams. Washington U. takes on Spalding at Noon and Hendrix at 2 p.m.

Bear Notebook: The homerun for Abramoski in game one was the seventh of her career … The Bears pounded out 28 hits (.418 batting average) and scored 20 runs in the opening day of the 2012 season … Junior Ashley Janssen went 3-for-7 from her leadoff spot and was on base five times in the two games.