Competing on their home turf for the first time in 2003, junior Ryker Jones, senior All-American Elizabeth Stoll and sophomore Maggie Grabow took advantage of the home cooking at the Washington University Invitational to qualify for the 2003 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Jones, who took 11th in the pole vault at the 2003 NCAA Indoor Championships, carried that success into his first competition of the outdoor campaign, winning the vault in a provisionally qualifying mark of 4.78 meters. That height, which set a school record, is currently the top mark in the nation. Stoll, competing in the last home meet of her decorated career, was the winner in the high jump, clearing 1.64 meters to earn a provisionally qualifying mark. The multitalented Stoll, who took second place at the 2002 NCAA Indoor Championships, also took second place in the javelin, throwing 33.88 meters. Also qualifying for the Bears was Grabow, who won the women’s 10,000 meters in 36:37.82 to earn a provisional mark in her first-ever race at that distance.
Other updates
The 14th-ranked softball team split a doubleheader with Fontbonne University April 3 at WUSTL Field. Washington U. won game one, 1-0, while Fontbonne posted a 3-1 win in game two. Sophomore Victoria Ramsey threw a shutout and improved to 8-2. She allowed five hits and struck out two as she threw her fifth complete game of the year. In game two, Fontbonne took the early 2-0 in the top of the first behind a two-run home run from Taylor Rosner. The Bears answered back as Liz Swary drove in Dionna Little to cut the score to 2-1 in the bottom of the first inning. The Bears managed just three hits the rest of the way. April 5, Ramsey threw a one-hitter in game one and freshman Stephanie Sheppard was 4 for 4 with two RBIs in game two as the Bears posted a sweep of Westminster College in Fulton, Mo. The Bears claimed game one, 10-0 in five innings, as Ramsey had a no-hitter through 4 2/3 innings before Tiffany Norris broke up the bid with a hit to right field with two outs in the bottom of the fifth. In game two, Washington U. won, 13-3 in five innings, as the Bears won 20 or more games for the fourth consecutive season. Junior Lorri Fehlker pitched five innings, allowing three earned runs.
The baseball team improved to 17-8 by winning four of five games. Washington U. rolled to a 15-1 win over Maryville University in the first of two April 1, only to watch the Saints take an 11-10 win in the nightcap. Steve Schmidt tossed an eight-inning complete game as the Bears rolled past Mac-Murray, 14-2, April 3. He struck out six and threw just 54 pitches through the first seven innings. Ryan Argo went 5 for 5 with two home runs, three RBIs and four runs scored. The Bears made it three straight with two wins April 5. Josh Deitch shut down a 19-5 Thomas More team that entered the game averaging better than 11 runs per contest. He scattered six hits, five of them singles, and struck out six batters. Damien Janet matched Deitch in game two as the Bears downed Knox College, 4-1. Janet fanned a career-high 14 batters and surrendered just four singles.
The No. 7 men’s tennis team improved to 7-4 as the Bears posted a 2-1 record last week. The Bears opened the week by losing to Williams College, 4-3, but rebounded to post victories over the Univer-sity of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, 6-1, April 4 and Wittenberg University, 5-2, April 5.
The 10th-ranked women’s tennis team moved to 10-2 with two more wins at home April 5-6. The Bears rolled past No. 18 Wisconsin-Eau Claire, 9-0, before polishing off Wittenberg, 8-1.