ST. LOUIS, Mo. – The Washington University in St. Louis softball team dropped the UAA opener to Brandeis University 4-2 on Friday afternoon. The Bears are now 11-6 overall with an 0-1 mark in UAA play.
 
Brandeis put two on the board in the top of the third inning to go up 2-0 on the Bears. Bells Burdenski drew a one-out walk and Haley Nash followed with another walk. Anna Kolb drew a two-out walk to load the bases and Alex Cohen drove in Burdenski and Nash with a single to left center.
 
The Judges added another run in the top of the fifth inning. With one out, Nash drew a walk and Kolb drilled a two-out double to left center to bring her home to give Brandeis a 3-0 lead.
 
In the top of the sixth inning, Hannah Fletcher came in to pinch hit and drilled a homer over the left field fence for a 4-0 Brandeis lead.
 
In the bottom of the sixth inning, the Bears put up two runs. Kennedy Grippo singled up the middle to lead things off and Erin Reardon reached base on a fielder's choice and moved to second on a ground out from Olivia Craycraft. Natalia Pilpil sent a shot over the left field fence to bring in Reardon for a 4-2 game.
 
Pilpil finished 1-for-3 with one run scored and two RBI while Sydney Schneider and Taylor Geluck finished 1-for-3. Grippo finished 1-for-1 on the day. Jamie Burgasser took the loss in the circle, pitching a complete game with nine strikeouts, five walks and four runs scored. She is 3-2 on the year.
 
The Bears return tomorrow with games two and three of the four-game series against Brandeis. The first pitch is slated for 12 p.m. The games will serve as Pride Day in partnership with the Center for Diversity and Inclusion.