A season with many highs and lows came to an end as the Webster University softball team lost, 6-5, to Fontbonne University in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tournament, on May 4, at ABC Ball Park.  The team had battled out of the losers bracket with an 8-4 win over Blackburn College (IL) to face Fontbonne in the finals.

Against Fontbonne, pitcher Ashley Meagher's (SO, Dupo HS, IL) gutsy performance gave the Gorloks a chance to advance to a single game championship final but a three-run seventh propelled the Griffins to the title.  Webster built a 5-1 lead, highlighted by a four-run second.  Jessica Arcangel (JR, St. Lucy's Prep, CA) led off with a double and after walks to Hanna Brindisi (SR, John A. Logan CC, IL) and Rolla, Samantha Powers (SO, John F. Kennedy HS) cleared the bases with a double.  After a Julie Hartung (SR, Macon HS, MO) single, Kristie Konersmann (SO, Northwest HS) brought home Powers with a single.

The Griffins chipped away at the lead with runs in the third, fourth, and sixth, to set up the fireworks in the seventh.  With two out and none on, a walk, single, and hit batsman loaded the bases for Fontbonne.  After a walk made it 5-4, Coach Chris Eaton summoned Thompson to save the game.  Thompson quickly got two strikes on the batter, but evened the count with with two pitches in the dirt.  On a 2-2 pitch, a bloop hit into  left field brought home the tying and winning runs for Fontbonne, and the Gorloks dream of a championship were gone.

Powers was two for three, with two runs, a double, and three RBIs.  Hartung, finishing the season with a .380 batting average, was two for three.

Trisha Thompson (SO, Xavier Prep HS, AZ) had a complete game win over Blackburn.  She allowed eight hits and four runs, while striking out eight.  The win was Thompson's 12th of the season as she wound up 12-10.  Tabatha Bahre (SR, Lutheran South HS) was two for four, with a double, and three RBIS.  Kristin Rolla (SO, O'Fallon HS, IL) was two for two, with a double, RBI, stolen base, and a run scored.

The team started the season on a high note, going 3-1 on a trip to Mississippi in March.  But a 14-game non-conference run, including 10 games in California, saw the Gorloks go 1-13 to drop their season record to 4-14.  Rebounding as they began their SLIAC schedule, Webster went 9-2 to edge closer to .500 at 13-16.  A double-header loss to Washington University dashed hopes of reaching .500 as the team finished with a 6-6 stretch to end the season.

Webster had a number of players garner post-season honors.  Hartung was named to the SLIAC All-Conference First team for her outstanding senior season.  Meagher, Bahre, Danielle LaVenture (SO, Nerinx Hall HS) and Thompson all were named All-Conference Second Team.

Kaytlin Burczak (JR, Bishop McNamara HS, IL), Taylor Gibbs (FR, Alton HS, IL), Konersmann, and Powers all received Honorable Mention.   Hartung also was named to the SLIAC All-Sportsmanship Team.  Bahre, Hartung, and Powers were also named to the 2012 SLIAC All-Tournament Team. 

The Gorloks lose three seniors, Bahre, Brindisi, and Hartung, all starters, but can take comfort in knowing they have a lot of experienced, young players returning for the 2013 season.