Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 The Webster University softball team dropped a double header in its home opener, losing to Wartburg College IA), 15-10 and 9-1.  The Gorloks mounted a valiant comeback in game one but never got unwound in the closer.
 
In game one, Wartburg took an 11-0 lead before the Gorloks started to mount a comeback in the bottom of the third.  Katlyn Garza (FR, O'Fallon, MO/Ft. Zumwalt North HS) Emily Kolisch (SO, St. Louis, MO/Incarnate Word Academy) and Erin McGinnis (JR, Fenton, MO/Rockwood Summit HS) all walked to load the bases.
 
Alyssa Sapp (JR, Ashland, MO/Southern Boone HS) reached on an E6, with Garza scoring.   Laura Zeegers (JR, Oviedo, FL/Leon HS) was hit by a pitch, scoring Kolisch and a wild pitched scored McGinnis.  Kaylyn DeCock (JR, Bettendorf, IA/Bettendorf HS) walked to load them up again and a Tessa Johanning (FR, Sullivan, MO/Sullivan) groundout scored Sapp and made it 11-4.
 
In the Webster fourth, Chloe Costa (FR, Frisco, TX/Frisco HS) and Kristin McIntyre (SO, Eureka, MO/Eureka HS) singled.  With one out,  McGinnis single to load the bases and a walk to Sapp scored Costa.  A Zeegers sacrifice fly scored McIntyre and DeCock walked to load them up again.  Johanning singled in McGinnis and Sapp to close the gap to 11-8.
 
Wartburg had single run in fith to make it 12-8, and the Knights broke it back open with three runs in the top of the seventh to make it 15-8.  The Gorloks made one more attempt to rally, loading the bases with none out in the bottom of the seventh.   Johanning singled, Kaitlin Kinne (JR, Paducah, KY/Heath HS)and Costa walked, but Webster could only push two across for the 15-10 final.
 
Costa started and went the distance.  She took the loss and is 0-4 on the season.  At the plate, Johanning was 2-4, with three RBIs.  Sapp was 1-4, with an RBI, two runs, and a walk, and McGinnis was 1-4, with two runs and a walk.
 
In game two, Wartburg built up a 9-0 lead through four innings against starter Paige Prather (JR, Evansville, IN/Central HS), scoring in all four frames.  Alexis Spriggs (SO, Scott City, MO/Scott City HS) pitched a scoreless fifth for Webster.
 
The Gorloks could only muster four hits with Zeegers doing all the damage, going 2-2 with an RBI.  Praither took the loss and is 1-1 on the season.

Webster hits the road immediately for a double header at Spalding University (KY) on March 22.  The Gorloks will open play in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference against the Golden Eagles.