Bloomington, Ill., April 11, 2015 – The No. 14-ranked Washington University in St. Louis softball team managed just eight hits and was shutout for the first time all season as the Bears dropped a doubleheader at No. 8 Illinois Wesleyan University Saturday afternoon in Bloomington, Ill.

The Bears suffered a 2-0 loss in game one and a 3-1 loss in the second game.

WashU dropped its overall record to 25-9 with the two defeats, while Illinois Wesleyan extended its winning streak to three games and improved to 22-4. The two-game losing streak is the first of the season for the Bears.

#8 Illinois Wesleyan 2, #14 WashU 0 – Game One
IWU pitcher Chloe Montgomery (14-1) had the Bears on the ropes the first five innings and took a no-hitter into the sixth. Montgomery allowed just three hits in the complete game victory with five strikeouts and just one walk.

The Titans broke a 0-0 tie in the fifth inning on a two-out RBI single by Hannah Bowen. She had two of the eight hits for Illinois Wesleyan in the win. IWU added an unearned run in the sixth after a leadoff single by Dani Smith, and then advanced to second on an error by left fielder Hannah Mehrle. Smith came around to score on a single to center by Amanda Lack.

WashU loaded the bases against Montgomery in the sixth with two outs, but got freshman Anna McKee to ground out to third to end the threat. The Bears threatened again in the seventh after Mehrle led off with a double. Freshman Melinique Walls reached on a two base error by Bowen moving Mehrle to third, but Montgomery got junior Brooke Hofer to ground to third and senior Alyssa Wilson on a sharp liner to right to end the game.

Junior pitcher Annie Pitkin (16-5) took the loss giving up eight hits and just two runs (one earned). Pitkin struck out 10 to increase her NCAA Division III leading total to 187. The Bears left six runners on base and were 0-for-8 hitting with runners in scoring position.

#8 Illinois Wesleyan 3, #14 WashU 1 – Game Two
The Titans scored an unearned run in its first at-bat after a two-out RBI single up the middle by Smith. IWU added two runs on three hits off freshman starter Maggie Clapp in the second to push the advantage to 3-0. Clapp (5-2) took in loss allowing three hits and three runs (two earned) in 1 1/3 innings pitched.

Junior Brooke Hofer ended the scoreless streak for the Bears with a one-out RBI single to left in the fourth that scored sophomore Janet Taylor to make it 3-1. Hofer's single to left ended the day for IWU starter Mackenzie Marquis, who gave up three hits and one earned run in 3 1/3 innings pitched. Jenna Nolen took the ball for IWU and struck out sophomore Halle Stenberg and Wilson with runners at second and third to end the threat.

Nolen (3-0) allowed just two hits the rest of the way with five strikeouts to pick up the win.

Gauden kept the Illinois Wesleyan offensive under wraps for 4 2/3 innings pitched, allowing just two hits. The Bears tied a season-high with four errors in game two and left six runners on base.

Washington U. closes out a six-game roadtrip with a doubleheader at Westminster College Friday, April 17. Game one is set to begin at 4 p.m. in Fulton, Mo.

BEAR NOTEBOOK: Biles extended her hitting streak to 17 games and has reached base in 27 straight  … Biles also moved into sole possession of second place in school history with 59 stolen bases … IWU is 9-1 at home this season … The Bears were a combined 1-for-17 with runners in scoring position in the two games.