Box Score PRESS CONFERENCE
Arden Hills, Minn. – The Washington University in St. Louis softball team won its NCAA first-round game on Friday afternoon, defeating Buena Vista 7-0.
The Bears will play the winner of host Bethel on Saturday at 12 p.m. Bethel defeated Bethany Lutheran 5-1. A win will move WashU into Sunday's regional final. With a loss, the Bears will have to play in the elimination game at 4:30.
WashU wasted no time putting a run on the board, scoring in the top of the first inning.
First-year Maggie Baumstark got things going with a single to left field and advanced to second on a Tami Wong single to left before Natalia Pilpil drew a walk to load the bases. Ashley Kennedy reached on an error by the short stop to bring in Baumstark and give the Bears a 1-0 edge.
WashU added another run in the top of the second inning.
With two outs, Katie Gould singled to short and stop second to put herself in scoring position. Baumstark drilled a single up the middle, scoring Gould for a 2-0 lead.
After several innings of scoreless play, WashU added three more runs in the top of the sixth inning.
Nicole Hay started things with a single to left center and Payton Irwin followed with a single through the left side. Gould then singled to left to load the bases. Emily Talkow, who was in to run for Hay, Gould and Baumstark scored on a three-run double from Wong to give the Bears a 5-0 lead.
The Bears forced three quick outs in the bottom of the sixth inning and went back to work in the top of the seventh to add two more runs.
First-year Erin Reardon hit a lead-off double to left center and Kennedy singled to the shortstop. Olivia Craycraft came in to run for Kennedy and stole second to put two runners in scoring position. Kirsten Drabek singled to left field, scoring Reardon for the first run of the inning. Hay then grounded out to short, but Craycraft moved ahead to score for a 7-0 WashU lead.
Buena Vista got some offense going in the bottom of the seventh inning, starting with a Jamie Wendt single through the left side. Alyssa Barnhart then reached on a fielder's choice, but both runners were safe following a throwing error.
In fitting fashion, the Bears ended things with a double-play as Reardon caught Paige Druskis' ball in right field and threw out Wendt at home.
Katie Gould went 3-for-5 with two runs scored while Baumstark finished 2-for-4 with two runs scored and one RBI. Wong was 2-for-4 with three RBI while Hay went 2-for-4 with RBI.
Holly Stoner pitched a complete game in the circle, allowing just four hits with two strikeouts to pick up her 11th win of the season for an 11-4 record.
