Sophomore Kennedy Grippo at bat in an early season game. (Ben Gondzur | Staff Photographer)

The No. 14 WashU softball team traveled to New York City to face conference opponent New York University. The Bears swept the three-game series, winning 3-0 on Friday, April 4, and the doubleheader on Sunday, April 4, 3-3 and 8-1, extending their winning streak to seven games.

In the opening game, the Bears got off to a quick start. In the first inning, senior Erin Reardon singled up the middle and later stole second base. Then senior Brooke Capparelli grounded out, advancing Reardon to third. Senior Natalia Pilpil drove Reardon home on a sacrifice fly in the next at bat.

When the fifth inning approached, the Bears found their spark again. Junior Jamie Cendana singled to middle field, and then junior Alexa Hanish reached on a fielder’s choice. 

Soon after, the Violets committed an error on second base, loading the bases. Pilpil delivered a clutch single to left field, making the score 3-0.

“Taylor, Kennedy, and Julia had already started putting hits on the board and really set us up for success”, Cendana said. “With them already in scoring position, I just wanted to put the ball in play and give them a chance to score. I’m glad I was able to keep the rally going and help put up some runs”.

While the Violets did put up a fight toward the bottom of the sixth inning, senior pitcher Jordan Rossi pitched out of the jam. 

“By watching how they positioned themselves and how they swung, I could figure out which pitches would work best in certain situations,” Rossi said. “That helped me make smarter choices pitch by pitch. I also really relied on my defense—anytime a ball was put in play, I trusted my teammates to make the plays behind me”.

The Bears had successfully started their three-game series with a 3-0 shutout win.

“Getting that first win is also really important because it sets the tone for the rest of the series,” Rossi said. “It gives us momentum and puts us in a strong position to stay on track with our bigger goal of making it to the postseason”. 

In the first game of the doubleheader on Sunday, NYU got on the board first. However, the Bears got their momentum back in the fourth inning. Senior Taylor Geluck and sophomore Kennedy Grippo singled, getting on first and second base. When sophomore Julia Nicholus got up to bat, she doubled to right field, driving in Geluck and advancing Grippo to third. Cendana’s clutch single to center field drove in Grippo and Nicholus and gave the Bears their first lead of the game.

In the fifth inning, senior Maggie Baumstark advanced to third after Capparelli reached first on a fielder’s choice. The Bears attempted a double steal. Capparelli was caught stealing second and Baumstark stole home, widening the score to 4-2.

The Violets did fight back in the sixth inning, but it wasn’t enough for them to win.

The Bears got off to a strong start in the first inning of their second game of the day. Pilpil and Geluck both singled, putting them on first and second base. Next at bat, first-year Harper Nix reached first on an error, driving in Pilpil and Geluck. 

NYU came close to responding in the second inning after a Violet player advanced to third on a wild pitch, but senior pitcher Jamie Burgasser pitched her way out of the tight situation.

It was not until the fourth inning when a Violet player singled to third base to bring a player home, but this was the only time they could find home plate.

The Bears remained the dominant team for the rest of the game. In the fifth inning, Geluck and Nix were both on base. Geluck scored off of Nicholus’ single to center field, and soon after, Cendana made a triple play, allowing Nicholus and Nix to score as well.

With a 5-1 lead, the Bears continued their scoring streak. Cendana gained an RBI after junior Sydney Schneider singled and reached second on a centerfield error by the Violets. Following graduate student Dawson Dabboussi’s walk, Grippo made a double play, giving Schneider and Dabboussi RBIs to make the game 8-1.

The Violets were quiet for the rest of the game, allowing the Bears to secure their third straight win.

After a successful weekend, the Bears established themselves as the No. 1 team in the University Athletic Association Conference, with an 8-1 conference record and a 21-5 overall record.

The team gets a break from conference play as they take on Illinois College this Wednesday, April 9, back home, hoping to continue their seven-game winning streak.