ST. LOUIS, Mo. – The Washington University in St. Louis softball team bounced back on Sunday afternoon with a pair of wins over Wartburg and Spalding. The Bears improve to 11-5 on the season as they head into UAA play starting next weekend.
 
Game 1: WashU 4, Wartburg 3
Wartburg put two runs on the board in the bottom of the second inning to get things going. With one out, Lili Alvarado singled to third and Sydney Fellows blasted a homer over the left center fence for the 2-0 lead.
 
The Bears tied things up in the top of the second inning. Sydney Schneider led off with a single up the middle and then stole second. Payton Irwin followed with a single to short and the runners moved up on a Brooke Capparelli sacrifice bunt. Catryn Cattoor drove in the first run of the game with a single through the left side to bring in Schneider and Maggie Baumstark brought in Irwin with a ground out to second.
 
Wartburg added another in the bottom of the second. Reegan Deputy doubled to left field and Reagan Hassel followed with a single through the left side and then stole second. With one out, Kaylie Springer hit a single up the middle to score Deputy for a 3-2 lead.
 
WashU took a 4-3 lead in the top of the sixth inning. With one out, Taylor Geluck singled up the middle and was then pinch ran for by Emily Talkow. Schneider drilled a double to right center and both runners advanced on a wild pitch with Talkow tying the game. Capparelli then sent a shot to right center for a double, scoring Schneider to give the Bears the lead.
 
Schneider was 3-for-3 with two runs scored while Craycraft went 2-for-4. Capparelli finished 1-for-2 with one RBI and Cattoor went 1-for-3 with one RBI.
 
Jamie Burgasser picked up the win in the circle, pitching 6.1 innings with three earned runs and three strikeouts with no walks. Maria Brooks earned the save, facing the final three batters and notching one strikeout.
 
Game 2: WashU 8, Spalding 2
The Bears got on the board in the bottom of the first inning, starting with a double from Erin Reardon to lead off. With one out, Natalia Pilpil doubled to left center to bring in Reardon and Ashley Kennedy followed with a homer over the center field fence to give WashU the 3-0 edge.
 
WashU added another in the bottom of the second inning. Alexa Hanish lead off with a double to left field and advanced to third on a Capparelli sac bunt. Reardon drew a one-out walk and Hanish stole home as Reardon got in a run down between first and second base.
 
In the bottom of the third inning, Pilpil led off with a single to right center and advanced to second on a passed ball. Geluck singled to short and advanced to second on the throw and Schneider followed with a single to left, scoring Pilpil. Geluck then scored as Hanish singled up the middle to make it a 6-0 game.
 
Spalding scored a run in the top of the fifth inning. Carsyn Sidebottom singled to the pitcher and stole second. With two outs, Jenni Beasley singled through the right side, scoring Sidebottom for a 6-1 game.
 
In the bottom of the fifth inning, WashU tacked on two more runs. Kennedy led off with a single to first and Talkow came on to run for her. Geluck laid down a bunt and reached base to put Talkow in scoring position and Talkow went on to score on a double from Schneider to right field. Hanish followed with a walk and Geluck scored on an Elena Locascio sac fly to put the Bears ahead 8-1.
 
Spalding scored one final run in the top of the seventh inning. Dawn Wilson reached base on an error and advanced on a Sidebottom bunt. Karlee Terral singled to third to load the bases and Beasley reached on a fielder's choice. Grayce Marcum hit a sac fly to bring in Sidebottom for an 8-2 game.
 
Pilpil finished 3-for-4 with two runs scored and one RBI while Kennedy was 2-for-4 with two runs scored. Hanish finished 2-for-2 with one RBI and one run scored and Reardon was 1-for-1 with one run scored and a walk.
 
Jordan Rossi improved to 2-0 in the circle, pitching a complete game with two runs and seven strikeouts.
 
The Bears begin UAA play next weekend with a four-game series against Brandeis, starting with a 3 p.m. game on Friday, followed by a 12 and 2 p.m. doubleheader on Saturday and an 11 a.m. game on Sunday. Saturday's games will serve as Pride Day.