It was a tale of two games on Saturday, with the New York University softball team blanking Washington University in St. Louis in the opener and the Bears returning the favor in the second game of the twinbill.

The Violets (9-15, 3-6) opened the University Athletic Association (UAA) doubleheader with a 4-0 shutout of the Bears (19-8, 7-4), while the visitors countered with a 5-0 win in the nitecap. 

Maggie Swan (4-4) allowed only six hits and struck out three in holding WashU scoreless in the complete-game victory.

With NYU clinging to a 2-0 lead, the Bears loaded the bases with nobody out in the top of the fifth. Swan bore down and induced a popup and two ground balls to get out of the inning unscathed.

"She trusted herself and trusted her defense," said Head Coach Now-Allah James. "She showed senior poise in getting out of that jam."

NYU was staked to that lead on Kalena Paredes' two-run homer in the fourth, her second of the season. 

The Violets added two more runs in the bottom of fifth. Lily Candelaria opened the frame with a double and eventually scored on Bella Dunning's sacrifice fly. The second run scored on an error.

That was enough support for Swan as the Violets posted their second straight win over the Bears.

That streak was snapped in the second game, however, as Bears' pitcher Madison Denton was perfect through 5-1/3 innings. But, Madi Hand reached on an error and Elisabeth Smith followed with a hit to foil the no-hitter. Sophia Leon followed with a liner to shortstop which was turned  into a double play and ended the Violets' only threat of the game.

Erin Scott added NYU's second and final hit in the bottom of the seventh.

"We've shown that we can go toe-to-toe with the top team in the UAA," James added, referring to the first-place Bears. "We just have to keep fighting and come out tomorrow ready to play."

The Violets and Bears conclude their four-game series on Sunday back at Pace University in Pleasantville, NY. First pitch is set for 11:00am.