The Webster University softball team had a walk-off win in game one, but then saw a late inning lead evaporate for a loss in game two as the Gorloks split a doubleheader with Illinois College, on March 28 at Blackburn Park.  The Gorloks, powered by Katelyn Johnson's bat, would score in the ninth inning to win the opener, but an eight-run seventh by the Lady Blues sunk them in the nightcap.

After Karissa Cardenas (JR, Henderson, CO/Prairie View HS) was placed at second base in the bottom of the ninth in game one, per the softball extra-inning procedure, Kate Sullens (JR, Highland, IL/Highland HS) bunted her over to third.  A Johnson (JR, Cambridge, IL/Woodstock HS) single down the right field line sent Cardenas home with the winning run, as the Gorloks prevailed, 3-2.  Both teams had scored in the eighth, Illinois College on a two-out double off reliever Chelsea Thornley (SO, Clinton, MO/Clinton HS) and Webster on a two-out single by Cardenas to score Tessa Johanning (SO, Sullivan, MO/Sullivan HS).  Thornley, who retired the Lady Blues in the top of the ninth, earned her second victory of the season.

Johanning was sailing along on the mound for Webster in game one, having thrown six shutout innings entering the top of the seventh, as the Gorloks led 1-0.  A leadoff single by Illinois College and a runner reaching safely on a fielder's choice at second put two aboard quickly.  A force at second for the first out left runners at the corners, but another runner reached safely on a fielder's choice, with the tying run crossing the plate and leaving runners at first and second.  After a single loaded the bases, Alexis Spriggs (JR, Scott City, MO/Scott City HS) was summoned from the bullpen.  Spriggs got the next two batters to pop out to short and strike out to send the game into extra innings. 

Webster had scored its lone run in regulation on a two-out single by Cardenas in the fourth, scoring pinch-runner Sydney Bierman (FR, Knob Noster, MO/Knob Noster HS).  The Gorloks finished with 12 hits in the game.

Johnson wound up 4-4 in the game, with an RBI.  Cardenas was 2-4, with two RBIs and a run scored, and Johanning was 2-3 with a double, walk, and run scored.

Johanning went 6 1/3 innings, giving up six hts, one run, while walking three and striking out one.  Thornley went two innings, giving up one hit and one run and improving to 2-4 on the season.

In game two, Webster built a 3-0 lead after three innings.  Chyanne Fulmer (FR, DeSoto, IL/Carbondale HS) doubled home Johanning and Sidney Coleman (JR, Fredericksburg, VA/Fountain-Ft. Carson HS) in the second to stake the Gorloks to a 2-0 lead.  Leadoff singles by Sullens, Johnson, and Erin McGinnis (SR, Fenton, MO/Rockwood Summit HS), followed by a ground out to third by Carol Ann Weiler (SO, St. Peter's, MO/Ft. Zumwalt East HS) added another in the third.

Spriggs started and had thrown four shutout innings, giving up just two hits.  In the fifth, with two down she gave up three straight singles and might have gotten out of the inning unscathed, but an error and another single plated three unearned runs for the Lady Blues, tying the game at 3-3.  Errors would play a big part in the Gorloks' downfall in the contest.

In the bottom of the sixth, a pair of Gorloks singles and an Illinois College error set up a two-run double by Johnson to give Webster a 5-3 lead entering the seventh.  It looked like Johnson had her second straight game winning hit.  But the proverbial wheels came off for Webster in the Lady Blues half of the seventh.  Thornley was called on again to shut the door but was greeted with a single and a Webster error to put the first two runners on.

With one down, another single and a three-run home run put Webster in a 7-5 hole.  After another single, Paige Prather (SR, Evansville, IN/Central HS) relieved and gave up three hits and three runs, all unearned as the Gorloks committed three errors, gving them four in the inning and six for the game.  When the dust settled, Illinois College had an 11-5 lead and the win.

Spriggs wound up going 6 innings and giving up nine hits and three runs, one earned.  Thornley took the loss and fell to 2-5 on the season

The Webster offense, a constant for the season, banged out 13 hits in the loss with Johnson going 2-4 with two RBIs, making her 6-8 on the evening.  She raised her season batting average to .436, right behind team leader Sullens, at .438.  Fulmer was 2-3 with two RBIs, a double and run scored, and McGinnins was 3-4.  Weiler was 1-3 with an RBI, reaching on a walk and an error as well, and Emily Kolisch (JR, St. Louis, MO/Incarnate Word Academy) was 2-4.

Webster is 4-10 overall on the season.  Illinois College is 8-4 with the split.  The Gorloks resume action in the SLIAC with doubleheaders later this week at Fontbonne University on March 31, and at Greenville College (IL) on April 2.