Margaret BauerThe Washington University Bears softball team closed out their spectacular 2004 season this Sunday by splitting a doubleheader with Wartburg College. Winning the first game of the day, 2-1, and falling in the second, 4-1, the Bears ended their regular season with a final record of 31-3, the best record in Bears’ history.
After falling to Maryville last weekend, dropping the Bears down seven places from the 3rd to 10th place ranking in the Division III poll, the Bears entered this final weekend of play determined to make up for their loss. The first game of the doubleheader, played at home, was started by freshman starting pitcher Laurel Sagartz. Sagartz has been nearly unstoppable this season, going 12-1 on the season going into the weekend and leading the Bears in their storybook season.
Sagartz pitched a complete game three-hitter, allowing only one earned run and striking out six in the attempt, leading the Bears to victory in the opening game of the doubleheader. Sagartz also went 1-for-3 at the plate with a clutch RBI.
Helping in the Bears’ win was sophomore right fielder Amanda Roberts, who went 1-for-3 on the day with a run scored. Junior catcher Jackie Burgdorf scored the other run of the day as she went 1-for-2 with that pivotal run scored to put the Bears up ahead of Wartburg.
In the second game, junior pitcher Victoria Ramsey lead the Bears to an early lead; Ramsey pitched four scoreless innings allowing just two hits until freshman Abby Morgan came in to relieve Ramsey in the fifth. Morgan gave up no runs and hits in her first inning of play, but in the top of the sixth, she gave up four runs on three hits and one error before being pulled for senior pitcher Lorri Fehlker.
Junior first baseman Liz Swary gave the Bears their only run in the game as she went 2-for-2 with a walk and a homerun.
Closing out the season the Bears can look back on their season and be proud of their accomplishments. A number of Bears have risen to the occasion, becoming true leaders of the team. Swary, who has hit consistently spectacular all season, finished the year hitting .400, and leading the team in nearly every offensive category-at bats (105), runs (27), hits (42), doubles (6), homeruns (6), RBIs (32), total bases (68), slugging percentage (.648), walks (19) and on base percentage (.492). Roberts led the team with 14 stolen bases out of 17 attempts while sophomore Monica Hanono led the team in batting average, hitting .422 on the season.
Allowing only five runs on the whole season, Sagartz finished her first season with the Bears going 13-1 on the season with an ERA of 0.40, as well as tallying up an outstanding 101 strikeouts with only 18 walks; opponents only hit .116 against her. She also had one save.
There are four Bears who will be sorely missed next year as they go on to graduate. Catcher Becky Chmielewski, outfielder Lexie Kuznick, outfielder Maggie Cousins and pitcher Lorri Fehlker all contributed to the Bears season. Fehlker went 1-0 on the year with a 0.34 ERA and two saves to her name in 20.2 innings pitched and 11 appearances. Cousins hit .275 on the year, contributing 11 runs and 6 RBIs to the Bears effort this season.