The sixth-ranked Case Western Reserve University softball team dropped the finale of a four-game series with Washington University in St. Louis on Sunday at the WashU Softball Field in St. Louis, losing 3-1.  

The Spartans fell to 24-5 on the season and 9-3 in University Athletic Association games, while the Bears improved to 20-8 overall and 9-3 in the UAA. With eight conference games remaining, the two teams are tied atop the league standings. 

After two scoreless innings, the Bears pushed two runs across in the bottom of the third on a two-out single and added a run in the following inning with a two-single. 

With two outs in the sixth, CWRU put two runners in scoring position after a walk by first-year Alaina Steffes and infield single from senior KaiLi Gross. Senior Stevie Rieger followed with a single to score one run, but the second runner was thrown out to end the frame. 

The Spartans brought the tying run to the plate in the final stanza but were unable to score. 

Junior pitcher Lexi Miskey (14-3) took the loss in the circle, allowing three runs on six hits in three and two-third innings. She struck out five batters to increase her career total to 494. Junior Kylie Hosey did not allow a base runner over the final two and one-third innings, adding a strikeout. 

Rieger collected two of the team's four hits in the contest, including her 11th double of the season to tie Steffes for the team lead. 

CWRU will continue its eight-game road trip next weekend, journeying to Waltham, Massachusetts, for a four-game series against Brandeis. First pitch of the first game is scheduled for 3 p.m. on Friday, April 19.