Freshman Claire Voris dazzled in her collegiate debut, picking up wins over University of Texas at Dallas and the University of Mary-Hardin Baylor at the Easton Classic in Tyler, Texas.

Washington University’s softball started off a little shaky but rebounded to split the weekend’s four games.

The Bears had to adjust to the 70-degree weather as well as playing on a grass and dirt field. The team has been practicing in the Recreational Gym as their field has been iced over throughout the winter season.

“We’re all happy to be playing again,” said sophomore Ally Berenter.

“[Junior] Kerry Kreitman and [senior] Amy Vukovich had good weekends at the plate,” added senior captain Kaylyn Eash.

University of Texas at Tyler 8, Wash. U. 0
The Bears dropped their season opener, as the Patriots unleashed an offensive storm. UT Tyler grabbed the lead from the get-go with four runs in the first inning.

Eash took the loss on the mound. According to Eash, the loss was due to first-game jitters.

Wash. U. 7, University of Mary-Hardin Baylor 1
The Bears bounced back from their loss to UT Tyler to unleash a torrent of 13 hits led by the slugging of senior Karli Stander and sophomore Ashton Hitchcock, each of whom recorded three hits.

“Everyone had their moments,” said Voris, who picked up her first win with 10 strikeouts.

Wash. U. scored three runs as Hitchcock brought home Voris, and sophomore Carter Malouf drove Hitchcock and Stander home.

Hitchcock and junior Lindsay Cavarra both singled to get on base before Berenter stepped to the plate. Berenter nearly knocked one out of the park as her homer collided with the scoreboard, driving in three runs.

East Texas Baptist 13, Wash. U. 4.
The Lady Bears had only seven hits in the loss to the rampaging East Texas Baptist Tigers who are on a five-game winning streak.

The Red and Green fared well in the first inning, driving in two runs scored by Stander and Hitchcock. With the bases loaded, senior Kaylyn Eash stepped to the plate but was unable to bring any runner home.

Two innings, the third and seventh, proved to be their undoing, as the Tigers scored four runs and seven runs respectively. Sophomore Ally Berenter recorded the loss.

Wash. U. 7, UT Dallas 1
Wash. U. was nursing its wounds from the Saturday night loss to East Texas Baptist University and launched a sustained assault on UT Dallas Sunday morning.

The Bears were unstoppable, backed by Voris’ performance on the mound that limited the Comets to four hits and only one run and junior Lindsay Cavarra going 3-3 with two runs batted in.

The Comets refused to quit, and the situation seemed dire with the bases loaded in the bottom of the fourth with one out. However, Voris struck out two Comets in a row to bring the Bears from the brink of disaster.

Wash. U. had a steady string of runs with at least one in each of the first five innings.

The Bears have two weeks until their next games at the Rebel Spring Games in Kissimmee, Fla. The Red and Green take the field against Methodist College at 9 a.m. EST and Muhlenberg University at 11 a.m. EST to start off the competition on March 7.

“We’re ready for Florida,” said Kreitman.

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