Box Score vs. Washington (Mo.)
Box Score vs. Austin

CONWAY, Ark. – The Hendrix College softball team kicked off the annual Warrior Spring Fling with a split on Saturday. The Warriors (3-1) fell to Washington University (5-0) 8-3 in the opener, but rebounded to top Austin College (1-10) 2-0.

Against the Kangaroos, senior pitcher Ashley Halbert (2-1) threw a three-hit, three-strikeout shutout.

Hendrix scored both runs in the bottom of the second when sophomore right fielder Morgan Fires and senior center fielder Sydney Copeland led off with back-to-back hits. After a Catelyn Gibbs sacrifice bunt, junior left fielder Tiffany Hubbard was hit by a pitch, loading the bases. Sophomore shortstop Michaela Larabee lined out to second baseman Jessica Baker, but Baker threw the ball away, allowing Fires to score. Freshman catcher Jill Sikes followed with a base hit, plating Copeland.

Copeland went 3-for-3 and Sikes was 2-for-2 for the Warriors.

Austin pitcher Sam Matulis (0-5) lasted four innings, giving up six hits and an earned run.

In the opener, the Bears outhit the Warriors 12-6 and took advantage of three Hendrix errors.

Washington picked up runs in the second and third, gaining an early 2-0 lead. Halbert doubled with two outs in the third and freshman first baseman Shelby Anderson drove her in with a base hit down the left field line, cutting the deficit to 2-1.

The Bears scored five runs on four hits and two errors in the fifth, including a two-run homer from first baseman Stacy Berg. Wash. U added another run in the seventh.

Hendrix scored two in the bottom of the seventh on three hits and an error. Larabee drove in a run in the final inning.

Halbert connected on a pair of doubles for Hendrix. Shortstop Adrienne White went 3-for-4 and Berg had two hits and three RBI.

Pitcher Kelsey Neal (2-0) struck out eight in five innings, allowing two hits and a run for Washington. Annie Pitkin fanned four more in two innings of relief. Halbert took the loss, allowing three earned runs, two walks and two strikeouts.

Hendrix will face Austin and Washington again on Sunday.