Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 The Webster University women's softball team split a doubleheader at Westminster College, losing the first 5-4 in 10 innings, and winning the second, 6-3, in Fulton, MO, on April 25.  With the split the Gorloks go to 8-4 in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, holding onto third place, just behind the second place Blue Jays.  Trisha Thompson (JR, Xavier Prep HS, AZ) became the Gorloks all-time strikeout leader with 15 whiffs on the evening.

Webster came back to earn the split as Samantha Powers (JR, John F. Kennedy HS, MO) got the start in game two.  Powers went five and a third innings, allowing three runs-two earned, on eight hits and two walks, while striking out five.  Powers picked up the win and is 5-3 on the season.

Thompson came on in relief in the sixth with two on and one out.  Powers had gotten into a jam, giving up two runs to make it 6-3, and the Blue Jays had runners at first and third.  Thompson got the final two outs in the inning on a pop up and a strikeout to hold the lead.  Thompson set Westminster down 1-2-3 in the seventh for the save.

The Gorloks had grabbed a 6-0 lead with four runs in the second and two in the third.  In the second, Kaytlin Burczak (SR, Bishop McNamara HS, IL) doubled one run in, and a walk and an error led to a second run.  A groundout by Courtney Gass (JR, Wesclin HS, IL) scored another run and Rachel Franck (FR, McCluer North HS, MO) had a two-out single to drive in Webster's fourth to make it 4-0.

In the third, Aly Watson (SR, Ft. Zumwalt HS, MO) and Taylor Gibbs (SO, Alton HS, IL) had doubles to score one run and a second run scored on an error on a grounder to second by Burczak to make it 6-0.  Franck was three for four in the game, with a double and an RBI.   Watson was one for two, with a double, two walks, and a run scored.   Burczak was one for four, with a double, RBI, stolen base, and a run scored.

In the opener, Thompson started and went nine and a third innings, giving up six hits, three walks, and five runs, only two earned.  Thompson struck out 14 in the game and 15 on the night to become Webster's all-time career strikeout leader with 326.  Thompson eclipsed the 324 mark set by Gail Vogt (2005-07).

Both teams entered entered into extra innings tied 2-2.  Gibbs had provided Webster's total offensive output in regulation with a two-run homer in the sixth.  The long ball was Gibbs eighth of the year and tied her for eighth on Webster's all-time single season high list.  After Webster took a 3-2 lead in the ninth on a pair of Blue Jay errors, Westminster came right back with a run of their own to tie it up, 3-3.

In the 10th, Webster took the lead again on an RBI ground out by Watson.  But a Webster error and two walks by Thompson, who had not walked a runner in five previous starts, led to two Westminster runs and Webster fell, 5-4.  Thompson took the loss and is 8-8 on the season.

Gibbs was one for four, with the home run and two RBIS.  Franck was one for four, with a stolen base and a run scored.  The Gorloks only managed three hits in the contest.

The Gorloks have four games remaining in the SLIAC and Westminster, percentage points ahead at 7-3, still has six games to go.  The team travels to Louisville, KY, for a doubleheader with Spalding University on April 27.  Webster heads to Greenville College (IL), on April 29, for its final regular season action.  The SLIAC Tournament will run from May 2-4 at ABC Park in St. Ann, MO.