The Webster University softball team will open the 2015 season in Jackson, MS, this weekend, February 28-March1.  The Gorloks will play four games in a round robin hosted by Millsaps College, including two games vs. Huntingdon College (AL) and two vs. Millsaps.

To follow the team in Mississippi you can find the live stats by clicking here.

The Gorloks will be spending a lot of time 'down South' to start the season, heading to Florida just five days later to participate in the PFX Spring Games in Clermont, FL.  Webster will play eight different schools over a five-day period.  With 12 games under their belt when they open play at home vs. Robert Morris College (IL) on March 19, head coach Chris Eaton should have a good idea of how the Gorloks will fare this season. 

Webster has nine new players on the roster and only four starters out of six returning players.  The team will have a much different look than the 2014 edition that finished 9-9 in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and 13-19 overall.  It was just the second time in program history that the team failed to make the SLIAC Tournament.

The Gorloks face a tough non-conference schedule including games against NFCA preseason ranked teams Trine University (#6), Washington University (#21), and SUNY-Oneonta (received votes), all perennial NCAA tournament participants.
 
Junior Erin McGinnis (Fenton, MO/Rockwood Summit HS) leads the group of returnees and will make the switch defensively this year from outfield to shortstop.  She looks to build on her outstanding offensive year in 2014 when she batted .370, with 25 RBIs and 11 stolen bases.
 
Other returners include outfielders Alyssa Sapp (JR, Ashland, MO/Southern Boone HS), Alison Stabenow (JR, Granite City, IL/Granite City HS), Emily Kolisch (SO, St. Louis, MO/Incarnate Word Academy) and infielder Kristin McIntyre (SO, Eureka, MO/Eureka HS).
 
The pitching staff will have a new look this season with sophomore A.J. Spriggs (Scott City, MO/Scott City HS) as the only returning pitcher. The Gorloks are looking for big things on the mound from freshmen Tessa Johanning (Sullivan, MO/Sullivan HS) and Chloe Costa (Frisco, TX/Frisco HS). Also seeing time on the rubber will be junior Paige Prather (Evansville, IN/Central HS/Rend Lake CC) and another freshman, Chelsea Thornley (Clinton, MO/Clinton HS).
 
Another newcomer, junior Kaylyn DeCock (Bettendorf, IA/Bettendorf HS/Indian Hills CC), will take over the catching duties and help guide the Gorlok pitching staff. Other new faces include infielders Laura Zeegers (JR, Oviedo, FL/Leon HS/Jefferson Davis CC), Kaitlyn Kinne (JR, Paducah, KY/Heath HS/SE Illinois College), Katlyn Garza (FR, O'Fallon, MO/Ft. Zumwalt North HS), and Kate Wylie (FR, St. Louis, MO/Webster Groves HS).
 
Webster has a 40-game regular season schedule, hopefully leading to a berth in the SLIAC Tournament on April 30-May 2, at Principia College in Elsah, IL.  The tournament champion advances to the NCAA Championships beginning on May 7th.