The Case Western Reserve University softball team split a doubleheader at home against Washington University (Mo.) at Mather Park on Saturday afternoon, winning 11-3 in six innings in the first game, but dropping the second contest by a score of 3-0.

Prior to the games, the Spartans honored the team's four senior members, Katie Dzierwa, Grace Tritchler, Maren Waldner and Katie Wede. The four seniors have helped the team to a 96-55 record over the last four year, including a program-record 32 wins in 2015.

With the split of the doubleheader, the Spartans moved to 23-8 overall and 10-6 in the UAA, while Washington now stands at 9-13 and 1-7 in the conference.

Game 1: CWRU 11, WashU 3 (6 innings)
The Spartans and Bears were tied at 3-3 until the bottom of the fourth when CWRU jumped out to a 6-3 lead, and then tacked on three more runs in the fifth and another two runs in the sixth, en route to a run-rule shortened victory over the Bears in the first game of the day.

Waldner drove in a team-high two runs in the game and collected a team-high three hits, while Wede, Tritchler, sophomore Nicole Carty and sophomore Ilissa Hamilton each collected two hits and drove in a run.

CWRU put up three runs in the bottom of the first to take an early 3-0 lead in the game. Washington evened the score at 3-3 in the top of the third after a three-run homer from Maggie Clapp.

The Spartans reclaimed the lead in the fourth with three runs, including a RBI single from Wede, which put CWRU ahead at 6-3. The Spartans put the game out of reach with three runs in the fifth and two more in the sixth, extending the advantage to 11-3.

Hamilton pitched all six innings, allowed three runs on eight hits, while striking out a career-high 11 batters. She improved to 10-4 on the year with the victory, while Anna McKee suffered the loss for the Bears as she dropped to 5-6 on the campaign.

Game 2: WashU 3, CWRU 0
Two runs in the sixth and one run in the seventh from WashU proved to be the difference in the late game on Saturday, as the Spartans fell to the Bears 3-0.

The loss came despite a solid pitching performance for freshman Sidney Brannam. She allowed only two earned runs on five hits and one walk, while striking out three batters.

However, Case Western Reserve could not get its offense on track in the game against WashU starter Maggie Clapp, who held the Spartans scoreless on four hits, while striking one and allowing two walks, improving to 4-5 on the year with the complete-game win.

Freshman Arisa Cleaveland, Tritchler, junior Nicole Doyle and Carty each accounted for the team's four hits. Brannam took the loss for CWRU, falling to 11-4 for the season.

Case Western Reserve will return to action on Monday, April 23^rd, when the team travels to Alliance, Ohio to face the University of Mount Union for a doubleheader. The first pitch on Monday is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.