Tucson, Ariz., March 6, 2020 – The Washington University in St. Louis softball team split a pair of games on the opening day of the 2020 National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Leadoff Classic Friday in Tucson, Ariz. 

WashU had nine hits and handed Alma its first loss of the season in a 6-3 victory in game one, and then after a late rally the Bears fell short 10-9 in eight innings to St. Benedict in the second game. 

WashU 6, Alma 3 – Game One
Sophomore Katie Gould went 3-for-3 with two runs scored in the win over Alma. Sophomore Nicole Hay and freshman Kayla Nommensen each had a homerun for WashU.

The Bears led 2-1 after the first inning after back-to-back triples from senior Amy Walsh and Gould. Nommensen's solo homerun in the second made it 3-1, and then an RBI single by senior Mikaela Arredondo and a two-homerun by Hay in the third made it 6-1.

Sophomore Madison Denton (2-0) picked up the win allowing four hits and three earned runs in 4 1/3 innings pitched, while sophomore Holly Stoner allowed one hit and struck out three in 2 2/3 innings out of the bullpen. 

St. Benedict 10, WashU 9 (Eight Innings) – Game Two
Grace Gilmore delivered a two-out, three RBI double in the bottom of the eighth as St. Benedict came away with the one-run victory.

WashU had eight hits and committed four errors in the loss. Gould went 2-for-3 with three runs scored, while Hay, Nommensen and Wong each had multi-hit games.

Hay and freshman Tami Wong had RBIs as WashU trailed 7-2 heading into the seventh.

The Bears scored five runs on two hits and took advantage of two errors in the seventh to tie the game at 7-7. Nommensen had the lone RBI in the inning for WashU. 

WashU scored a pair of unearned runs in the eighth before Gilmore provided the game-hitting hit in the bottom half of the inning.

Denton (2-1) suffered the loss allowing five hits and four earned runs in 4 2/3 innings pitched in relief.

WashU (4-2) takes on Transylvania at 9 a.m. and No. 8-ranked DePauw at 11 a.m. on Saturday on Day Two of the NFCA Leadoff Classic. 

BEAR NOTEBOOK:
• WashU is 1-1 this season in extra innings
• Gould went 5-for-6 with five runs scored and is hitting a team-best .455