ST. LOUIS, Mo. – The No. 10 Washington University in St. Louis softball team lost to Wartburg 3-4 on Friday in the opening game of the NCAA Tournament. The Bears fall into the loser's bracket and will face Lake Forest tomorrow at 1:30 p.m. in an elimination game.
 
Wartburg had a three-run sixth inning to take a lead on the Bears. Reagan Hassel led off with a single down the left field line and moved up on a grounder from Jenna Wiebenga. Bella Mulder was hit by a pitch and Riley Feeley hit a bunt single to score Hassel for the first run of the game. Feeley moved up on a passed ball and Addy Wells doubled to left, scoring both runners for the 3-0 advantage.
 
In the bottom of the sixth inning, senior Maggie Baumstark drew a one-out walk, stole second and advanced to third on a grounder from senior Erin Reardon. First-year Harper Nix drew a walk and senior Natalia Pilpil singled up the middle, scoring Baumstark for a 3-1 game.
 
In the top of the seventh inning, Ally Happ was hit by a pitch to lead off and went on to score on a Sydney Fellows double to right center, extending Wartburg's lead to 4-1.
 
The Bears rallied for two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning, starting with a lead-off walk from sophomore Kristina Donaldson. Junior Sydney Schneider reached base on a fielder's choice and sophomore Kennedy Grippo singled to center. Sophomore Julia Nicholus singled up the middle, scoring Schneider for a 4-2 game. First-year Emma Dow, who came on to run for Nicholus, stole second and scored on a sacrifice fly from Baumstark.
 
Senior Brooke Capparelli went 1-for-3 while Donaldson finished 1-for-2 and Nicholus was 1-for-1.
 
Sophomore Maria Brooks took the loss in the circle, pitching six innings with seven hits, four runs and six strikeouts.
 
With a win tomorrow against Lake Forest, the Bears would play the loser of the 11 a.m. game in another elimination. To win the regional, WashU will have to win four games across two days.