Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Katlyn Garza powered a seven-run inning that led the Webster University softball team to a 10-2 win over Blackburn College (IL) in five innings, giving the Gorloks a split for the night. Webster dropped a one-run decision, 7-6, to the Beavers in the opener of a doubleheader hosted by the Gorloks at Blackburn Park on April 1.

The offensive outburst took place in the fourth inning of game two, with the scored tied 2-2.  Kaitlyn Kinne (JR, Paducah, KY/Heath HS) led off with an infield single before Garza (FR, O'Fallon, MO/Ft. Zumwalt North HS) launched a drive over the fence in dead center field.  Kristin McIntyre (SO, Eureka, MO/Eureka HS) reached on a bunt single and Emily Kolisch (SO, St. Louis, MO/Incarnate Word Academy) walked.

Alyssa Sapp (JR, Ashland, MO/Southern Boone HS) singled through the right side to score McIntyre and an Alison Stabenow (JR, Granite City, MO/Granite City HS) loaded the bases with a bunt single.  Sapp would score on a passed ball, and Tessa Johanning (FR, Sullivan, MO/Sullivan HS) singled in Laura Zeegers (JR, Oviedo, FL/Leon HS), who had reached on a fielder's choice.  A dropped fly ball by Kinne scored Kaylyn DeCock (JR, Betterdorf, IA/Betterndorf), who had also reached on a fielder's choice, and Johanning, making it 9-2.  Garza doubled in her second at bat of the inning and McIntyre had a second bunt single before the Gorloks were finally retired.

In the bottom of the fifth, Sapp led off with a hit just inside the left field line, stretching it into a double.  Stabenow bunted for a single, with Sapp surprising the Beaver defense by hustling all the way home on the play for the game-winning run.  Webster won on the five inning, eight-run lead rule, 10-2.

Alexis Spriggs (SO, Scott City, MO/Scott City HS) was the starting pitcher for Webster and went four innings, giving up four hits and two runs, and striking out two.  Spriggs picked up the win and improved to 2-5 on the season.  Paige Prather (JR, Evansville, IN/Central HS) pitched a scoreless fifth to close out the contest.

Garza was 2-3, with a home run, double, two RBIs and run scored.  Sapp was 2-4 with a double, two runs, and an RBI.  Stabenow finished 2-4 with two RBIs and DeCock was 2-3 with an RBI and run scored.  McIntyre wound up 2-3 with a stolen base and run scored, and Kinne was 2-3 with a run scored.

In the game one loss, Webster took a 1-0 lead in the second inning when Kinne and Garza led off with singles, and with two out Kolisch singled home Kinne.  Johanning had started on the mound for the Gorloks and threw two scoreless innings before the wheels fell off in the third.  Johanning loaded the bases with three walks, and back to back Beaver singles and a double scored four, and a sac fly scored a fifth run, making it 5-2 Blackburn.

Johanning was done after three innings, giving up three hits, four walks, and five runs.  Chloe Costa (FR, Frisco, TX/Frisco HS) took over in the fourth and gave up a two-run single with two out as Blackburn took a 7-1 lead.  Costa then would retire nine of the final 10 batters she faced as the Gorloks mounted a comeback.

DeCock and Johanning had back to back doubles to lead off the fifth to make it 7-2.  Kolisch walked to lead off the sixth and with one out, Stabenow reached on a bunt single.  Zeegers doubled home Kolisch and when the Blackburn left fielder had an errant throw on the play, Stabenow came home also cuttng the deficit to 7-4. 

The Gorloks would come up just short in the seventh.  Garza singled to start the inning but after the next two batters were retired, Sapp singled with Garza scoring on an error by the Beaver center fielder.  Stabenow singled in Sapp for the Gorloks' sixth run, but Stabenow was stranded as Webster lost, 7-6.

Garza was 3-4 with a run scored, going 5-7 in the doubleheader.  Stabenow went 2-5 with an RBI and run scored, and Sapp was 2-5 with a run scored.  Kolisch was 1-2, with two walks, an RBI and a run scored.

Webster is 2-6 in the SLIAC and 4-17 overall.  The Gorloks travel to Fulton, MO, on April 6 to play Westminster College in a doubleheader, rescheduled from April 3 because of the forecast for this weekend.  Webster's next home game is on April 8 as they host Illinois College for a doubleheader at Blackburn Park.