Junior Taylor Geluck had four hits, an RBI, and scored a run in WashU’s loss to Greenville on Wednesday. (Photo courtesy: WashU Athletics)
| NCAA Softball | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #4 Greenville (35-8) | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 11 | 0 |
| #1 WashU (26-11) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 15 | 1 |
WP: Sydnee Garrett – GU (17-3) LP: Jamie Burgasser – WashU (7-4)
Steven Millbrook
Staff Writer
CLAYTON, MO — The Washington University softball team nearly rallied back from a 7-0 deficit, but fell a couple runs short, in what turned out to be a 7-5 loss to Greenville University, Wednesday afternoon in an NCAA Division III Tournament Regional opening round game at the WashU Softball Field.
The Bears had trouble containing Greenville’s offense, which scored three runs in the first inning, single runs in the third and fourth innings, then added two more in the top of the sixth. WashU finally got going in the bottom of the sixth, when it strung together three hits and scored two runs.
WashU then put together five hits, scored three runs, and had the potential tying runs on base, before Greenville pitcher Sydnee Garrett (17-3) was able to get the final out and win her team the game.
The win moved Greenville (35-8) into the winner’s bracket of the double-elimination regional tournament, where the Panthers will play Belhaven (38-6), which defeated Grinnell, 4-2, in a game on Friday. The winner of the Greenville/Belhaven contest will advance to the championship round and would only need one more win to claim the regional title and advance to next week’s super regionals.
WashU (26-11) will play Grinnell in an elimination game on Friday. The loser will be done for the season, while the winner will play the loser of the Greenville/Belhaven game in another elimination game, which will send the winner to the championship round on Saturday.
As mentioned above, Greenville took quick control of Thursday’s game against WashU, when Valerie Greenley hit a three-run home run in the top of the first to give the Panthers the lead.
The Panthers added another run in the top of the third inning. With one out, Garrett was hit by a pitch and Greenley doubled down the left field line to put runners on the corners. Sarah Salas singled to center, scoring Katie McGinnis, who had come on to run for Garrett, making it 4-0.
In the fourth inning, Greenville made it 5-0, starting with a single to right from Jamey Johnson. Madi Case laid down a sac bunt to advance Johnson and Josie Grunloh doubled down the left field line to bring Johnson home.
With two outs in the top of the sixth inning, Johnson drew a walk and Case singled to right field, advancing to second on a throwing error. Johnson went on to score on a wild pitch and Case scored on a Grunloh single to short for the 7-0 lead.
The Bears put up two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. Natalia Pilpil hit a ground-rule double to left field and Taylor Geluck singled up the middle, scoring Catryn Cattoor who had come on to run for Pilpil. Ashley Kennedy reached on a fielder’s choice play and Brooke Capparelli hit a two-out single up the middle, scoring Geluck for a 7-2 game.
WashU rallied for three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning. Sydney Schneider hit a one-out single up the middle and advanced to second on a passed ball. Pilpil doubled to left center to score Schneider and Geluck followed with a double to center to put runners on the corners.
Alexa Hanish singled to center, scoring Pilpil, and then stole second. Kennedy Grippo drew a walk and Olivia Craycraft singled through the right side to bring in Hanish for the 7-5 game.
Geluck finished 4-for-4 with one RBI and one run scored. Schneider was 2-for-4 with one run scored while Pilpil went 2-for-4 with one RBI and one run scored. Craycraft finished 2-for-4 with one RBI and Reardon was 2-for-4.
Jamie Burgasser took the loss in the circle to go 7-4 on the season, pitching 2.1 innings with five hits, four runs, one walk and two strikeouts.
The Greenville/Belhaven game will be the first game of the day. First pitch for that contest is scheduled for 11 a.m.
WashU and Grinnell will play at 1:30 p.m., with the winner of that contest facing the loser of the Greenville/Belhaven game at 4 p.m.
The championship round games will begin on Saturday at 11 a.m.
SCORING SUMMARY
| Logo | Team | Inning | Play Description | GU | WashU |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | GU | 1st | V. Greenley homered to center field, 3 RBI; S. Garrett scored; N. Moore scored. | 3 | 0 |
| GU | 3rd | S. Salas singled to center field, RBI; K. McGinnis scored. | 4 | 0 |
| GU | 4th | J. Grunloh doubled down the lf line, RBI; J. Johnson scored. | 5 | 0 |
| GU | 6th | M. Case advanced to third on a wild pitch; J. Johnson scored on a wild pitch. | 6 | 0 |
| GU | 6th | J. Grunloh singled to shortstop, RBI; M. Case scored, unearned. | 7 | 0 |
 | WashU | 6th | T. Geluck singled up the middle, RBI; C. Cattoor scored. | 7 | 1 |
| WashU | 6th | B. Capparell singled up the middle, RBI; P. Irwin advanced to second; T. Geluck scored. | 7 | 2 |
| WashU | 7th | N. Pilpil doubled to left center, RBI; S. Schneider scored. | 7 | 3 |
| WashU | 7th | A. Hanish singled to center field, RBI; T. Geluck out at third cf to 3b; N. Pilpil scored. | 7 | 4 |
| WashU | 7th | O. Craycraft singled through the right side, advanced to second on the throw, RBI; K. Grippo advanced to third; A. Hanish scored. | 7 | 5 |
WashU Regional Game Schedule
Thursday, May 16
Game 1: #1 WashU vs. #4 Greenville – Greenville won 7-5
Game 2: #2 Belhaven vs. #3 Grinnell – Belhaven won 4-2
Friday, May 17
Game 3: #4 Greenville vs. #2 Belhaven — 11 am
Game 4: #1 WashU vs. #3 Grinnell — 1:30 pm
Game 5: Game 3 Loser vs. Game 4 Winner — 4 pm
Saturday, May 18
Game 6: Game 3 Winner vs. Game 5 Winner — 11 am
Game 7: (if necessary) Game 6 Winner vs. Game 6 Loser — 1:30 pm