“Getting back in the groove” was freshman Claire Voris’ response to the past four games after a 15-day layoff.

When the team last saw action on April 9, Washington University churned out 13 unanswered runs against Westminster College.

It was a different team two weeks later. On April 24, the Bears lost 3-0 and then fell 5-3 in a tough doubleheader with Division II University of Missouri-St. Louis. With Wash. U. down 3-1 after three innings, the Bears mounted a comeback to tie the score, but the UMSL relief pitcher prevented the team from converting a bases-loaded opportunity. “We have our ups and our downs,” senior Kaylyn Eash said.

Their funk deepened on Saturday morning with a 2-1 loss to Maryville University. The Red and Green loaded the bases in three different innings but could not convert. Sophomore Carter Malouf had three hits and scored the lone run. “She’s tiny, but she packs a lot of power,” Voris said.

The losses gave the Bears plenty to reflect on. “We’re not being aggressive at the plate,” shortstop senior Laura D’Andrea said. “It’s given us an idea of what we need to do.”

Saturday’s afternoon game against Webster started well, as sophomore Megan Fieser took advantage of a misfielded ball to score the first run. Defensively, D’Andrea made a diving leap, catching a hard-hit liner to second to end the first. The lead was extended to three with RBI singles by Malouf and sophomore Ashton Hitchcock in the third.

But the Gorloks erased the Wash. U. lead with a grand slam followed by an RBI single in the third.

The situation seemed dire as senior Kaylyn Eash took to the mound in relief to end the inning. “When she’s out there, we know it’ll be alright,” Malouf said.

Eash took time to get adjusted as the lead grew to 8-3 in the fourth with the Bears committing three errors.

Despite trailing, Wash. U. mounted a comeback. Sophomore Caitlyn Hoffman struck first with an RBI single. With the bases loaded, Eash hit a grand slam off the first pitch to jump start the offensive machine. The ball sailed over the right field fence.

The Bears were back with an eight run fifth inning. Junior Lindsay Cavarra drove in two more with a double down the middle before Malouf hit an RBI double. “We really showed what we can do,” Eash said.

Wash. U. kept rolling as Eash, who recorded the win, had a two run blast in the sixth followed by D’Andrea, who scored on an error. The Bears took advantage of the six Webster errors.

The Red and Green capped the game with back-to-back jacks by Eash and Hoffman in the seventh. Webster threatened once more with a runner on third in the bottom of the seventh, but D’Andrea caught the fly ball to end the game.

Though Eash’s school record tying three homers propelled the team, several players noted that everyone has played the hero this season. “It’s different every week,” D’Andrea said.

“That last game was a start of something new,” Voris said. The Bears host two doubleheaders against Greenville College on Tuesday at 4 p.m. before facing No. 1 DePauw College on Saturday at noon.

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