LAGRANGE, Ga. – The Washington University in St. Louis softball team split with LaGrange on Thursday afternoon. The Bears are now 6-2 on the year heading into the final double-header of their spring break trip.
 
Game 1: WashU 2, LaGrange 0 (8 innings)
After a scoreless regulation, the Bears won it with two runs in the top of the eighth inning. Maggie Baumstark started the inning on second due to international rules and she moved up to third on a sacrifice bunt from Sydney Schneider. Olivia Craycraft was hit by a pitch and both runners stole a base, scoring Baumstark for the 1-0 lead. Craycraft scored the second run of the inning on a Taylor Geluck single down the right field line.
 
WashU forced three up and three down in the bottom of the eighth inning to secure the win.
 
In total, WashU left eight runners on base while LaGrange left 10 on.
 
Baumstark went 1-for-3 with one run score while Geluck went 1-for-3 with one RBI. First-year Maria Brooks picked up the win in the circle, pitching a complete game with five hits, no runs and four strikeouts.
 
Game 2: LaGrange 7, WashU 6 (8 innings)
The Bears put the first runs on the board in the top of the first inning. With one out, Craycraft singled to right center and Natalia Pilpil singled down the left field line and advanced on the throw. Craycraft moved up to third on the play and then scored on a throwing error to make it a 1-0 game.
 
Ashley Kennedy advanced Pilpil to third on a ground out and Schneider drove in Pilpil with a single to center.
 
LaGrange tied it up in the bottom of the first, starting with a lead-off single to third from Lindsey Swearngin. Alexa Gonzalez then doubled to center, scoring Jaiden Gay who was on to pinch run for Swearngin. Kelsea Moody reached back on a throwing error following a sac bunt attempt and Gonzalez scored on the error for a 2-2 game.
 
LaGrange took a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the fourth inning. Claire Chamberlain singled to left field, stole second and advanced to third on a passed ball. She went on to score on a Abby Hefner sacrifice fly to center.
 
The Panthers tacked on another in the bottom of the fifth. With two outs, Zoe Veres was hit by a pitch and pinch ran for by Breonn Newbille. Jenna Yeary reached base on a dropped fly to put runners on the corners and Newbille scored, unearned, on a Chamberlain single to right field.
 
WashU made it a 4-3 game in the top of the sixth inning. With one out, Brooke Capparelli hit a single to right. Then, with two outs, Erin Reardon singled and Capparelli scored on a throwing error.
 
The Bears tied things up and took a lead in the top of the seventh inning. Craycraft led off with a single up the middle and advanced to third on a Geluck single. Geluck stole second and Craycraft went on to score on a sacrifice fly from Kennedy. Schneider laid down a bunt to score Geluck for the 5-4 edge.
 
LaGrange tied the game in the bottom of the seventh to force extra innings. Veres drew a one-out walk and was pinch run for by Newbille. Yeary laid down a sacrifice bunt and Newbille scored on a throwing error to make it a 5-5 game.
 
The Bears added a run in the top of the eighth inning. Capparelli was placed on second to start the inning and advanced to third on a sac bunt from Elena Locascio. Capparelli then scored on a Reardon single to left for the 6-5 edge.
 
The Panthers won it in the bottom of the eighth inning. Hefner started the inning placed on second base and advanced to third on a wild pitch. K Hornsby drew a walk and stole second and H Barnett followed with a walk. Swearngin singled to left to load the bases and score Hefner to tie the game 6-6.
 
Gonzalez reached base on a fielder's choice and the Bears got the force out at home. Veres was hit by a pitch to score Barnett and give the Panthers the win.
 
Pilpil finished 2-for-3 with one run scored while Schneider went 3-for-4 with two RBI. Capparelli was 1-for-2 with two runs scored and Reardon went 2-for-5 with one RBI. Jamie Burgasser took the loss in the circle, pitching 0.2 innings and allowing two runs with two walks and one hit.
 
The Bears close out their spring break trip on Saturday with a double-header at Huntingdon at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.