Washington Demon softball started conference play with a bang last night, sweeping a doubleheader against defending two-time Southeast Conference champion Burlington.
Washington responded to an early 2-0 deficit in Game One with a score in the second inning and the tying run in the fourth. The Demons took the lead in the fifth thanks to a base hit by Alyvia Anderson that drove in fellow senior Ella Greiner and a two-run double for freshman Makenzie Messer’s first career hit.
Even when Burlington tied the game again with three runs in the top of the sixth inning, Washington scored four times in the bottom half on two-run singles by Messer and sophomore Colbie Greiner, and they held off a potential Grayhound rally in the seventh to win 9-6.
Colbie Greiner tied junior Leighton Salazar for a team high with three hits in Game One, while Ella Greiner and Anderson scored two runs each for the Demons and Salazar racked up four stolen bases.
Washington wasted little time continuing the offensive onslaught in Game Two, responding to an early deficit with 12 runs in the opening frame and going on to win 13-1 in a game that ended after four innings.
While Leighton Salazar had another two hits and scored her second run of the night, Bella Salazar did it all for the Demons, collecting a three-run double as part of two total hits and two runs scored. The senior also pitched all four innings and gave up just three hits and two walks against five strikeouts.
After the doubleheader, head Ben Obermann told KCII Sports that his whole team had a different look in its eye ahead of facing the defending league champs.
“We came into the hitting facility [today], and you could just kind of tell,” Obermann said. “[I] started off saying ‘What’s our mindset today, girls,’ and they were ready to go. They were ready to hit a good pitcher [and] they were ready to beat a good pitcher.”
Not only does Washington start Southeast Conference play this season 2-0, but the Demons have now won six straight games since losing their 2025 opener. Up next is a matchup with long-time rival Mount Pleasant on Thursday.