St. Louis, Mo. – The Washington University in St. Louis softball team swept Brandeis in a double-header on Saturday afternoon in UAA action. The Bears now hold a 3-0 lead in the series heading into the final game tomorrow.

Game 1: WashU 9, Brandeis 0

After a scoreless first inning and two Brandeis strikeouts in the top of the second inning, the Bears put two runs on the board in the bottom of the second.

Nicole Hay led off with a walk and advanced to second on a Payton Irwin single to left field. Eimear Cunningham also drew a walk to load the bases, prompting a pitching change for the Judges. Kirsten Drabek singled to right center, bringing in Hay for the first run of the game.

With two outs, Maggie Baumstark singled to right to load the bases. Tami Wong went on to draw a walk and bring in the second run of the inning for the Bears.

WashU forced three quick outs for the Judges in the top of the third inning and then exploded for five runs in the bottom of the inning.

Natalia Pilpil led off with a double to center field and advanced to third on a single from Hay. Pilpil scored on a sac fly from Irwin. With one out, Drabek singled down the left field line, scoring Hay.

Katie Gould laid down a bunt to advance Drabek to second and both scored on a Baumstark double to left field. Wong followed up with a single to right field, bringing in Baumstark to put the Bears up 7-0.

WashU scored its final two runs of the game in the bottom of the fourth inning.

Hay drew a walk to lead off the inning and advanced to second on a passed ball, followed by stealing third. Hay then scored on a wild pitch for the first run of the inning.

Cunningham drew a walk and Drabek doubled to right center, scoring Olivia Craycraft who was running for Cunningham.

The Bears forced three quick outs in the top of the fifth inning to end the game early.

Drabek went 3-for-3 with three RBI and one run scored while Baumstark finished 2-for-2 with two RBI and one run. Hay finished 1-for-1 with three runs scored and two walks.

Jamie Burgasser pitched a complete game, allowing just one hit and striking out five for her fourth win of the season.

Game 2: WashU 8, Brandeis 2

The Judges scored the first run of the game in the top of the first inning.

With one out, Melissa Rothenberg singled to left field and advanced on an Alex Cohen single up the middle. Both runners then moved up a base on a passed ball. Then, with two outs, Amidori Anderson singled to right field, bringing in Rothenberg to go up 1-0.

The Bears tied things up in the bottom of the second inning. With two outs, Gould singled down the left field line and scored on a Baumstark double to center field.

After three quick outs for the Judges in the top of the third, WashU added two more runs in the bottom of the inning.

Ashley Kennedy led off with a double to right center. Emily Talkow, who came in to run for Kennedy, then scored on a Pilpil double to right center. Hay then drew a walk and Pilpil stole third. Irwin singled to short to load the bases for the Bears.

Cunningham went on to reach on a fielder's choice, but Pilpil was out at home, keeping the bases loaded for WashU. Drabek drove in Hay with a sacrifice fly to give the Bears a 3-1 edge.

In the bottom of the fourth, WashU added another run. Baumstark doubled to left field to lead off and advanced to third on a Wong grounder. Baumstark was driven in by Kennedy to take the 4-1 lead.

In the bottom of the fifth inning, Irwin was hit by a pitch and then pinch ran for by Erin Reardon. With two outs, Drabek drove in Reardon for another Bears' run.

Brandeis added another run in the top of the sixth inning.

Jolie Fujita reached base on an error and advanced to second on the throw. Anderson then reached on an error, sending Fujita to third. Jamie Pippin drove in Fujita with a pop up to short stop.

The Bears scored the final run of the game in the bottom of the sixth inning.

Baumstark reached on an error to start the inning and then scored on a Kennedy double to right center.

Kennedy finished 3-for-4 with four RBI while Baumstark went 2-for-4 with three runs and one RBI. Drabek went 1-for-2 with two RBI and Gould finished 2-for-4 with one run scored.

Madison Denton picked up the win in the circle, pitching a complete game with four hits, two runs and five strikeouts.

The Bears conclude the series with a single game tomorrow at 12 p.m.