Senior Jamie Burgasser pitches in WashU’s season opening weekend on Feb. 22 and 23. (Luc Neacy | Photographer)

The  No. 18 WashU softball team dominated against The University of Chicago, winning all three games against the Maroons on March 28 and 29. The Bears are now 18-5 for the year and 5-1 in the University Athletic Association (UAA). 

The weekend opened with a tight game as the Bears defeated UChicago 1-0. At the top of the fifth inning, junior catcher Alexa Hanish hit a one-out double, allowing senior Erin Reardon to double down the left line, scoring first-year utility Christina Smith, who ran for Hanish. 

The Maroons put in an effort that resulted in two players in scoring positions. The Bears were able to end the game by forcing a groundout that stopped the Maroons from scoring. Reardon went 2-2 with one RBI. Sophomore pitcher Maria Brooks pitched a complete game with no runs and six strikeouts.

Junior outfielder Sydney Schneider, who has a fielding percentage of 1.00 this season, praised the team’s pitching and hitting in the first game. 

“We knew going into the weekend that Chicago has one of the strongest pitchers in our conference, and I think our offensive performance in game 1 highlights where we may have initially struggled,” Schneider said. “Fortunately for us, our pitching staff is incredibly dominant and reliable across the board, and they were able to support us as we worked to make those hitting adjustments.”

The Bears came out even more prepared on Saturday morning to open a doubleheader against the Maroons, earning the 5-2 victory. After Chicago scored their first run at the bottom of the first inning, WashU tied the game at the top of the fourth on senior catcher Natalia Pilpil’s second home run of the season.

WashU had four runs in the top of the sixth inning, starting with a single by Reardon, followed by a double by senior right fielder Brooke Capparelli, driving in Reardon and giving the Bears the lead. Capparelli scored on a Pilpil single later in the inning, and senior shortstop Taylor Geluck capped off the rally with a two-run home run, bringing the score to 5-1. 

The Maroons hit a home run in the seventh inning, but the Bears were still able to win the game 5-2. Pilpil finished the game going 2-3 with two RBIs. Senior pitcher Jordan Rossi pitched for five innings and had three strikeouts, and senior pitcher Jamie Burgasser had two strikeouts in the last two innings.

The Bears closed out their dominant weekend with a 4-1 win against Chicago. The Bears scored their first run of the game in the top of the third inning, with a Pipil single that brought Reardon to home base. However, the Maroons tied the game in the bottom of the inning.

The Bears scored the rest of their runs in an exciting top of the fourth inning. First-year catcher Harper Nix scored on a double from senior center fielder Maggie Baumstark, who was able to score on a Reardon single. After stealing second base, Reardon was able to score on a single from Capparelli, causing the Bears to lead 4-1.

Reardon had an impressive game, going 4-4 with two runs and one RBI. Burgasser struck out two Maroons in her 4.1 innings on the mound.

As the team looks ahead to more conference play, Schneider says they need to keep up the intensity against every opponent.

“Something we’ve struggled with in years past has been competing to the best of our ability against teams that we don’t perceive to be the strongest,” she said. “Winning conference is the overarching goal of ours this season, and in order to do that, I think it’s important that we continue to play our best softball regardless of what name is on the opposing team’s jerseys.”

WashU currently ranks second in the UAA, just behind Emory University. The Bears will continue with conference play in an away series against New York University on Friday, April 4 and Saturday, April 5.