ST. LOUIS, Mo. – The RV Washington University in St. Louis softball team opened the 2025 season with a pair of wins, defeated St. Catherine 9-0 and Coe 10-2, both in five innings.
 
Game 1: WashU 9, St. Catherine 0 (5 Innings)
The Bears scored the first four runs in the second inning, which was sparked by a lead-off double from junior Sydney Schneider. She then moved up on a sacrifice fly from first-year Harper Nix. Senior Maggie Baumstark was hit by a pitch and then there was a double steal, which scored Schneider for the first run of the game.
 
Senior Brooke Capparelli doubled to right center to score Baumstark and then advanced to third on a wild pitch. Senior Erin Reardon drew a walk and sophomore Kennedy Grippo doubled to left, scoring both Capparelli and Reardon for a 4-0 lead.
 
WashU took a 5-0 lead in the third inning as senior Taylor Geluck drilled a lead-off homer to left center.
 
The Bears put up four runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. Sophomore Julia Nicholus hit a one-out single to left center and Grippo doubled down the left field line. Both runners advanced on a wild pitch, scoring Nicholus for the first run of the inning.
 
Senior Natalia Pilpil singled up the middle, scoring Grippo and Geluck doubled down the left line to put two runners in scoring position. First-year Harper Nix singled to right center, scoring first-year Emma Down who was on to run to Pilpil, and Geluck to put the Bears ahead 9-0.
 
Grippo went 3-for-3 with two RBI while Geluck went 2-for-3 with two runs and one RBI. Nix was 1-for-2 with two RBI. Schneider and Pilpil both went 1-for-3 with one RBI.
 
Senior Jordan Rossi picked up her first win of the season in the circle, pitching a complete game with nine strikeouts in 17 batters. She had just two walks and allowed no runs.
 
Game 2: WashU 10, Coe 2 (5 Innings)
In the top of the third inning with one out, Grippo singled up the middle and Pilpil followed with a single through the right side. Geluck singled through the left side to bring Grippo home for the first run of the inning.
 
Graduate student Dawson Dabboussi was hit by a pitch to load the bases and Baumstark drilled a three-run triple to right center. Sophomore Kristina Donaldson singled through the right side, scoring Baumstark and giving WashU a 5-0 lead.
 
Coe put up two runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. Hadyn Shoots led off with a walk and Maddie Harris doubled to center and advanced to third on the throw, scoring Shoots. Ruby Olson reached base on a fielder's choice and then scored on a Marissa Vodicka double to left field, making it a 5-2 game.
 
The Bears had a big fifth inning, scoring another five innings. Donaldson led off with a single to short and Reardon followed with a single to the catcher. First-year Kennedy Rushing laid down a sacrifice bunt to move the runners and both Donaldson and Reardon scored on a Capparelli bunt.
 
Grippo reached base on an error and Pilpil singled to right to score Capparelli. Geluck singled to left field and advanced to second on the throw and Grippo scored to put the Bears ahead 10-2.
 
As a team, the Bears had 17 hits against the Kohawks, totaling 28 on the day as they had 11 in the first game against St. Catherine.
 
Geluck finished 4-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored while Pilpil was 3-for-4 with one RBI and one run scored. Donaldson and Dabboussi both went 2-for-3 with one RBI and one run scored.
 
Senior pitcher Jamie Burgasser earned the win in the circle with a complete game, allowing just two runs with six strikeouts.
 
The Bears will play St. Catherine tomorrow at 1 p.m., followed by Coe at 3 p.m. as part of Pride Day.