Washington University (20-7) fell to Nebraska Wesleyan University in a 3-2 loss in the Hy-Vee Invitational championship game.

WU 3, Nebraska Wesleyan University 2

Earlier on Saturday, Wash. U. had a 3-2 victory over the Prairie Wolves after staging a dramatic comeback. Down 2-0 in the bottom of the fifth inning, freshman Claire Voris entered to shut down the offense and keep Wash. U. in the game. The Bears offense then came together with a string of hits in the sixth. Sophomore Kerry Kreitman doubled to bring in the first run. Classmate Carter Malouf and junior Lindsay Cavarra followed up with RBI singles to win the game.

Nebraska Wesleyan University 3, WU 2

The tables were turned in the championship match later that day. Nebraska Wesleyan had a strong three-run fifth inning to overcome a two-run deficit.

The two-run lead came after senior Amy Vukovich snapped a 0-7 cold streak at the plate with a single. Vukovich advanced to third on a steal and a groundout by Voris. Senior Karli Stander bunted to score Vukovich for the first run of the game in the third. Sophomore Hitchcock had an RBI double in the fourth to double the lead.

The Prairie Wolves bounced back to string together six hits resulting in three runs to seal the win.

“Close games are always tough to lose because you get caught up reflecting on all the little things that made such a huge difference in the outcome,” Voris said.

“But I’d much rather lose a close game than win a blowout run-rule game. Close games teach you a lot more about the game, about your team and about yourself.”

Coe College 3, WU 2

The Red and Green came close, but not close enough, against the Kohawks. Sophomore Cait Hoffman scored off a wild pitch, and classmate Ally Berenter had an RBI double to establish a two-run lead. With two outs in the seventh, the Kohawk leadoff hitter homered to tie the game. The Kohawks went on to capitalize on a fielding error and scored the winning run in the eighth. Voris struck out twelve in the loss.

WU 11, Grinell 2

The Bears bounced back from their close loss to Coe with a dominating performance at the plate and senior Kaylyn Eash’s ace pitching.

Sophomore Ashton Hitchcock was red hot, going four-for-four and nearly hitting for the cycle with a homer, a triple and two singles.

Hitchcock also had to adjust to being a catcher again. “Though Ashton hasn’t been behind the plate since high school, you’d never know it, and she’s doing an amazing job,” Voris said.

Hitchcock ignited the Bears in the fifth inning with a 250-foot blast out of the park. Sophomore Megan Fieser drove in two more runs with a triple to right center before capitalizing on an error to score herself. Hitchcock ended the inning with a two RBI single to put the game out of reach. “We’re focusing more on communicating as a team,” Hitchcock said.

Hitchcock, who hit .538, and Voris, who had a 2.23 ERA, were named to the All Tournament Team.

Wash. U. returns home for a doubleheader against Westminster College on Wednesday beginning at 4 p.m. Red Alert is providing free pizza and a chance to win a $50 gift card. “It’s really nice to play for the people we love,” Hitchcock said.

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