For the WashU softball team, 12 might just be their lucky number.

The Bears ranked No. 12 in the latest National Fastpitch Coaches Association poll ahead of their weekend series with Brandeis University. They swept the Judges on April 18 and 20, extending a season-high win streak to 12 consecutive games. The streak is their longest since 2010, when they also won 12 games in a row en route to a deep run in the NCAA tournament. 

With 12 games in the books against University Athletic Association (UAA) opponents — and an 11-1 record against them — this year’s team has a chance to claim WashU softball’s first outright UAA title since 2017. 

Game 1

The first game of Friday’s doubleheader, which also celebrated Faculty and Staff Appreciation Day, ended in a convincing 7-1 victory. The Bears opened the scoring in the bottom of the first inning, when senior Natalia Pilpil drove in senior Erin Reardon with a sacrifice fly. The team added more runs in the second inning: sophomore Julia Nicholus stole home on a double steal, and senior Maggie Baumstark scored on a sacrifice bunt by senior Brooke Capparelli. 

In the third inning, junior Alexa Hanish drove in Nicholus on an RBI double. Brandeis got their sole run of the game in the fifth inning via a solo home run. Hanish had another RBI in the bottom of the fifth with a single. Finally, the Bears’ strong day was capped off by a two-run homer from Pilpil. 

In the circle, senior Jamie Burgasser pitched all seven innings and gave up only one earned run.

Game 2

Brandeis came out firing in the nightcap, immediately opening the scoring with a two-run double. However, the Bears responded quickly with a two-run home run by Pilpil. In the top of the fourth, the Judges regained the lead with an RBI single to bring the score to 3-2. 

Once again, the Bears replied instantly. Baumstark and Capparelli each drove in a runner, reclaiming the WashU advantage. Now with a 4-3 lead, the Bears tried to close out the game.  However, they conceded a tying run in the top of the seventh. The damage was limited to one run, sending the game to the bottom of the seventh inning tied 4-4. 

The inning began with Pilpil drawing a walk, and sophomore Kristina Donaldson replacing her as a pinch runner. Senior Taylor Geluck drew another walk, advancing the runners to first and second. Then, looking to advance the runners, junior Sydney Schneider laid down a bunt, but she beat out the Brandeis throw, loading the bases with no outs. Sophomore Kennedy Grippo then hit a flyout to center field that was deep enough for Donaldson to reach home, securing a Bears win, 5-4. 

Sophomore Maria Brooks earned the win in 3.2 innings of relief, conceding just one earned run.

Game 3

In the final match that was postponed to Sunday due to rain, the Bears completed the sweep with a mercy rule victory, 8-0 after five innings.

In the bottom of the first inning, Grippo hit a double to left-center field that drove in three runs. 

In the second, the Bears added another two runs. Capparelli struck a single that brought Hanish to home plate. Then, Baumstark stole home as Capparelli stole second, increasing the lead to 5-0. The Bears did not stop scoring, as an RBI single from first-year Harper Nix brought the score to 6-0. 

Head coach Casey Cromwell praised the team’s approach at the plate.

“It was timely hitting,” she wrote in a statement to Student Life. “We capitalized on opportunities we were given, and the result turned out in our favor. Coach Skeeter takes pride in our offensive approach and getting our hitters ready from week to week, and it’s showing.”

In the bottom of the fourth, the Bears got the final two runs to enact the mercy rule. Pilpil hit a sacrifice fly that brought first-year Emma Dow and Baumstark home. Senior Jordan Rossi closed out a scoreless top of the fifth to end the game, needing just 56 pitches to complete five shutout innings. 

Next weekend, the Bears have their final away trip of the season, facing University Athletic Association (UAA) opponents Carnegie Mellon in a three-game series on April 25 and 26. A series win against Carnegie Mellon, who are towards the middle of the pack in the UAA softball standings, will put the Bears in prime position to win a UAA title. 

“At this point we are pushing for the regular season UAA title,” Cromwell wrote. “To do this, we need to continue to play to our standard, not letting up when we are given opportunities. We need to continue to share the wealth in the circle, defensively and at the plate. The magic of this team is our depth, and we’re excited to see who shines in the last two series.”