The Webster University softball team opened up the 2016 season with a pair of losses, on March 4, at the PFX Games in Clermont, FL. The Gorloks fell to York College of Pennsylvania, 9-4, in the opener and lost to Ohio Northern University, 13-6, in the day's finale. Late inning rallies by both of the Gorloks' opponents sealed their fate in each game.
In the loss to York, Webster fell behind, 3-0, in the top of the second but made it 3-1 in the bottom half on an RBI single by Katlyn Garza (SO, O'Fallon, MO/Ft. Zumwalt North HS). After the Spartans added a run in the top of the third, Webster rallied with a pair of its own. After Kate Sullens (JR, Highland, IL/Southwestern Illinois College) and Laura Zeegers (SR, Oviedo, FL/Leon HS) singled to start the inning, Tessa Johanning (SO, Sullivan, MO/Sullivan HS) doubled both home but was stranded at second.
York added another run in the fourth and Webster got that one back in the fifth when Carol Ann Weller (SO, St. Peter's,MO/Ft. Zumwalt East HS) doubled to lead off and Sullens singled her to third. Weller would steal home when she and Sullens pulled off a double steal to make it a 5-4 deficit. But York added three insurance runs in the top of the sixth for the 8-4 final.
Johanning was 1-2, with a double, two RBIs, and a walk. Sullens was 2-3 with a run scored, a stolen base, and also reached on a hit by pitch.
Alexis Spriggs (JR, Scott City, MO/Scott City HS) started and went five innings for the Gorloks, giving up four earned runs and taking the loss. Paige Prather (SR, Evansville, IL/Central HS) went the final two innings, giving up three hits and three runs.
Against Ohio Northern, the Gorloks jumped on the Polar Bears for four runs to start the game. Erin McGinnis (SR, Fenton, MO/Rockwood Summit HS) singled, and with one out, Zeegers singled her to third. Johanning had an infield hit with McGinnis scoring and Zeegers taking third. Garza then doubled in Zeegers and Johanning to make it 3-0. With two outs, Johanning took home on a passed ball to make it 4-0.
The Polar Bears responded with three runs off Webster starter Chelsea Thornley (SO, Clinton, MO/Clinton HS) in their half of the inning to cut Webster's lead to 4-3. The Gorlok offense added two more runs in the top of the second. McGinnis doubled with one out and with two out, Sullens walked. Zeegers doubled, scoring McGinnis and Sullens to put Webster up 6-3.
Ohio Northern had another three-running inning in its half of the second to tie the game up at 6-6. The score remained that way until the bottom of the fifth when the Polar Bears generated seven runs on six hits and two walks to put the game out of reach.
Thornley took the loss for Webster, with Prather coming on in relief for a second straight game.
Zeegers had a big game for Webster, going 3-4 with a double, two RBIs, and a run scored. Garza was 2-2, with two RBIs, and McGinnis wound up 2-4 with a double and two runs scored.
The Gorloks are back in action on March 5, playing Wartburg College (IA) and Muhlenberg College (PA). Webster will be playing a total of eight games in Florida before opening at home with a doubleheader vs. the University of Wisconsin-Platteville on March 12 at Blackburn Park.
