ST. LOUIS, Mo. – The Washington University in St. Louis softball team fell to Greenville 7-5 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday afternoon. The win marks Greenville's first-ever NCAA Tournament win across all sports. The Bears are now 26-11 on the season.
Greenville put three runs on the board in the first inning. With two outs Natalie Moore singled to right center and Sydnee Garrett singled up the middle. Valerie Greenley then drilled a homer over the centerfield fence for a 3-0 edge over the Bears.
The Panthers added another run in the top of the third inning. With one out, Garrett was hit by a pitch and Greenley doubled down the left field line to put runners on the corners. Sarah Salas singled to center, scoring Katie McGinnis, who had come on to run for Garrett, making it 4-0.
In the fourth inning, Greenville made it 5-0, starting with a single to right from Jamey Johnson. Madi Case laid down a sac bunt to advance Johnson and Josie Grunloh doubled down the left field line to bring Johnson home.
With two outs in the top of the sixth inning, Johnson drew a walk and Case singled to right field, advancing to second on a throwing error. Johnson went on to score on a wild pitch and Case scored on a Grunloh single to short for the 7-0 lead.
The Bears put up two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Natalia Pilpil hit a ground-rule double to left field and
Taylor Geluck singled up the middle, scoring
Catryn Cattoor who had come on to run for Pilpil.
Ashley Kennedy reached on a fielder's choice play and
Brooke Capparelli hit a two-out single up the middle, scoring Geluck for a 7-2 game.
WashU rallied for three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Sydney Schneider hit a one-out single up the middle and advanced to second on a passed ball. Pilpil doubled to left center to score Schneider and Geluck followed with a double to center to put runners on the corners.
Alexa Hanish singled to center, scoring Pilpil, and then stole second.
Kennedy Grippo drew a walk and
Olivia Craycraft singled through the right side to bring in Hanish for the 7-5 game.
Geluck finished 4-for-4 with one RBI and one run scored. Schneider was 2-for-4 with one run scored while Pilpil went 2-for-4 with one RBI and one run scored. Craycraft finished 2-for-4 with one RBI and Reardon was 2-for-4.
Jamie Burgasser took the loss in the circle to go 7-4 on the season, pitching 2.1 innings with five hits, four runs, one walk and two strikeouts.
The Bears will face the loser of Belhaven/Grinnell tomorrow at 1:30 p.m. in an elimination game.
