Voris’ 14 Strikeouts Leads Softball Past Monmouth, 1-0, in Game One
BOX 1 | BOX 2
Monmouth, Ill., April 23, 2011 – Senior pitcher Claire Voris struck out a season-high 14 batters as the No. 22 ranked Washington University in St. Louis softball team posted a 1-0 victory in game one at Monmouth College on Saturday afternoon in Monmouth, lll. The Bears' late rally fell short in a 3-2 loss in game two.
Voris improved to 13-3 this season with the game one victory, allowing four singles. She struck out the side in the second and fourth innings, picking up her 69th complete game of her career, one shy of the school record. Voris’ 14 strikeouts also moved her past Jenna Harvey (Wellesley, 2005-08, 773) into 23rd place all-time in NCAA Division III history with 775.
The Bears’ bats were silent most of the day after having the past 10 days off. Washington U. had six hits in the first five innings of play in game one, but hit into two double plays.
Sophomore Ashley Janssen got things going for the Bears in the top of the sixth inning with her third hit of the game, a single to center field. Janssen stole second and then moved to third on a groundout by junior Alyssa Abramoski. Voris then drove in the eventual game-winning run with a ground out to third base scoring Janssen.
Monmouth (15-12) scored two unearned runs in the bottom of the first inning of game two to jump out to a commanding 2-0. Junior Olivia Cook kept Monmouth in check most of the game, but an RBI single by Caitlin Lingle in the fifth made it 3-0.
Washington U.’s bats came alive in the top of the seventh inning with one out. Freshman Maggie Mullen and sophomore Alex Fjeldheim recorded back-to-back singles, and then an RBI double down the left field line by freshman Kelsey Neal drove in Mullen to make it 3-1. Sophomore pinch-runner Hilary Stepansky tried to score from first base on the double by Neal, but was thrown out at the plate on a perfect relay throw from left field.
Sophomore Sondra Polonsky made it four hits in a row for the Bears, as she drove in Neal with an RBI single to left field to cut the lead to 3-2. Sophomore pinch-hitter Kathy Peter kept the rally alive by beating out an infield hit, but Janssen struck out on a check swing to end the game.
Cook (9-4) suffered the loss on the mound, allowing 11 hits and one earned run. Voris came into the game with the bases loaded in the sixth, but got Megan Creen to pop up to end the threat.
Washington University (27-8-1) has five days off before hosting a doubleheader with Fontbonne University on Friday, April 29. Game one is set to begin at 5 p.m.
Bear Notebook: Sophomore Claire Downs made her first-career start at first base in game one … The Bears made three changes in the infield for game two, as Fjeldheim started at first, junior Rebecca Salisbury at second and Voris at third … Junior Corissa Santos’ double in game one was the 30th of her career, seventh most in school history … Voris has appeared in 112 games on the mound for Washington U., tied for the most in school history.