Dan DaranciangWith just one game left to play in the regular season, the Washington University softball team heads into the postseason red hot. After another four wins this week, the Bears extended their winning streak to an incredible 26 games, which is the 11th-longest winning streak in Division III history. Their overall record of 43-1 is tops in the nation and the Bears will conclude the regular season as the No. 1 ranked team. The team is just five wins shy of the Division III wins record or 48, held by The College of New Jersey in 1984, 1992, 1994 and 1995.
On Sunday, Apr. 24, the squad edged out Wartburg College (23-8) in a 3-2, 7-6 sweep in Waverly, Iowa. The two games were some of the closest the Bears have seen all season. Heading into the final inning, the Bears were looking at their second loss of the year until senior Jackie Burgdorf hit a two-out, two-run home run in the top of the seventh to give the Bears a 3-2 come-from-behind win. The home run for Burgdorf was the first of her career.
In the second game, the University didn’t go easy after the nail-biter in the first game. The squad pounded out 13 hits and held off a late rally from Wartburg to post a 7-6 victory. Junior Amanda Roberts went 3-for-3 on the day, knocking in two RBI and adding three runs scored in the effort.
Following the sweep of Wartburg, the team took on Webster University (26-10) on Wednesday, Apr. 27 in its last home stint of the regular season. Coming off their WU record 24-game winning streak, the Lady Bears decided to put on a hitting performance for the home crowd. During the double-header, the team knocked out six home runs; the University had 12 hits, including two home runs, in the 7-1 win in game one. They followed that up with four home runs in a 9-1 win in five innings in the nightcap.
The Bears will begin postseason play in the next two weeks. Softball playoffs have two rounds: Regionals and Nationals. Due to the incredible success of the squad this season, Regionals may take place at home at Francis Field. However, due to the incredible strength of their region, teams may shift regions, so plans have yet to be finalized. The winner of each regional competition advances to Nationals for the right to be crowned Division III National Champions.
Regardless of where or who they will be playing, the Bears are headed into the playoffs full speed ahead. The team has already demolished their previous record for wins in a season, and are showing no signs of slowing down. The Bears boast two starting pitching aces who are both fresh off fantastic seasons. Senior Victoria Ramsey, who recently became the Bears all-time winningest pitcher, heads into Friday’s finale with a 14-0 record and 0.53 ERA. Sophomore standout Laurel Sagartz, the UAA Player of the Year, topped the 20-win mark this week, bringing her season record to 21-1, with an ERA of just 0.72.
Sophomore slugger Jamie Kressel has been making headlines of her own. With two home runs in Wednesday’s 9-1 win over Webster University, Kressel topped double-digits in home runs and leads the team with 11 round-trippers. Senior Liz Swary has produced a successful farewell campaign, batting .445 with 7 HR and a staggering 51 RBI.
Also wrapping up exceptional seasons at the plate are freshman Amy Vukovich and junior Monica Hanono. Vukovich leads the team with an outstanding .461 batting average and an on base percentage of .527, while Hanono finished with a .424 batting average to go along with 3 HR and 31 RBI.
Head Coach Cindy Zelinski has pushed the girls hard all season, producing very apparent results. In her fifth year at the University, Coach Zelinsky pushed the girls to perform at the best of their ability and stressed the importance of teamwork and team unity. The unorthodox pre-game rituals of the team demonstrate the type of bond the girls have formed, which has translated into victories on the field and a promising postseason.