ST. LOUIS, Mo. – The No. 25 Washington University in St. Louis softball team opened UAA play with a big win over No. 8 Case Western Reserve University on Friday afternoon. The Bears are 14-4 overall with a 1-0 mark in conference play.

The Spartans got on the board first in the top of the second inning. Elizabeth Berry hit a one-out single to short and Lacey Lara put down a sac bunt, allowing Berry to score on a Katelyn Lamm double to left field.

The Bears responded in the bottom half of the inning with a pair of runs. Sophomore Kennedy Grippo led off with a hard single through the left side and advanced on sacrifice bunts from junior Alexa Hanish and senior Maggie Baumstark. Senior Erin Reardon blasted her second career home run over the center field fence, putting WashU ahead 2-1.

WashU scored again in the top of the fourth inning with two outs. Hanish drew a one-out walk and stole second. Reardon doubled to left field, scoring Hanish for the 3-1 lead over the Spartans.

In the top of the fifth inning, Karen Potts led off with a single to the pitcher and stole second. Potts advanced on a Kate Coonan sacrifice bunt and scored on a wild pitch, making it a 3-2 game.

In the top of the seventh inning with two outs, the Bears ended things as Hanish caught Potts stealing at second, giving WashU the win.

Reardon went 3-for-3 with three RBI on the day. Senior Taylor Geluck finished 1-for-2 with a walk, and Grippo went 1-for-3 with one run.

Sophomore pitcher Maria Brooks earned her third win of the season in the circle, pitching a complete game with seven hits, two runs, one walk, and three strikeouts.

The Bears conclude the series tomorrow with a doubleheader beginning at 12 p.m.