Junior Lindsay Cavarra celebrated her 21st birthday in style, hitting an RBI double that ended number one DePauw University’s 37 game winning streak.
The catcher was the only Bear to have RBIs against DePauw as her fourth inning double to right field scored sophomore Ally Berenter.
“I’m glad that we stepped up,” Cavarra said after Washington University snapped a three game skid.
The Bears pulled off the 1-0 upset in the second frame of the doubleheader, backed by ace hurler freshman Claire Voris’ performance on the mound and some solid defense. “Everybody had a moment,” Voris said.
Voris held the vaunted Tigers to only two hits in the win despite pitching eight innings in the first frame.
Sophomore Carter Malouf was on fire defensively, catching balls belted at her face or diving to catch a low flying liner.
Both Malouf and Voris played key roles in the top of the seventh. The feeling of déj… vu arose again as Wash. U. had entered the seventh with a one run lead only to ultimately lose the game.
But Wash. U. prevailed as Malouf essentially fell on top of the ball to record the first out. Voris fielded a hard hit grounder to record the second out. The pressure was on as Voris walked the third batter.
Voris unfurled her pitch and the DePauw batter connected, sending the grounder down the third baseline. Voris ducked allowing Malouf to gun the ball to first baseman senior Kaylyn Eash to end the game and finish the regular season.
According to senior Karli Stander, the Bears were number one in the country in her freshman year. This year, they defeated the number one team in the country.
“We knew we could beat this team,” Stander said. “It felt great to end the season with a bang.”
Wash. U. 1 DePauw 4
The Red and Green came close to winning the first game, holding DePauw scoreless for six innings.
Wash. U. was the first on the scoreboard as Cavarra sent a high flying pop up that somehow found a way onto the ground between the Tiger’s pitcher, shortstop and third baseman. While the defenders looked up, sophomore Ashton Hitchcock tore through the bases to score in the bottom of the sixth.
Center fielder senior Amy Vukovich caught several hard hit balls deep into center field including one that nearly cleared the fence in the seventh.
DePauw rallied in the top of the seventh with two outs and a full count, using an RBI single to score the tying run. With runners in scoring position, shortstop senior Laura D’Andrea fielded the liner and tossed it to second baseman Kerry Kreitman to send the game into extra innings.
The Bears could have ended the game but were unable to score despite loading the bases.
The Tigers built a lead with a three RBI double in the eighth. Right fielder senior Karli Stander, threw out the batter at first, beating the runner by a hair to end the eighth.
According to Stander, she had not done that all year. “It was awesome,” Stander said. “Everyone was cheering.”
The Red and Green had one last opportunity to come back and tie the game. Despite their best efforts, DePauw’s defense came alive preventing the Bears from scoring with runners on second and third. DePauw’s win extended their streak to 37 before Wash. U. snapped it in the second game.
Wash .U. ended the regular season with a 24-13 record. The number fourteenth team in the country awaits news of its postseason fate.