With comebacks coming up short in both contests, the Webster University softball team lost to Manhattanville College (NY), 11-6, and Lakeland College (WI), 10-9. The Gorloks couldn't overcome a big hole to Manhattanville and had the winning runs on base as the game ended in the loss to Lakeland.
GAME ONE: Manhattanville built up a 7-0 lead over Webster in the first three innings before the Gorloks exploded for five runs in the fifth. Sidney Coleman (JR, Fredericksburg, VA/Garden City CC) and Katlyn Garza (SO, O'Fallon, MO/Ft. Zumwalt North HS) singled to start the inning. Sydney Bierman (FR, Knob Noster, MO/Knob Noster HS) pinch ran for Garza. Emily Kolisch (JR, St. Louis, MO/Incarnate Word Academy) singled Coleman home with Bierman taking third.
Kaylyn DeCock (SR, Bettendorf, IA/Bettendorf HS) loaded the bases with an infield single. Karissa Cardenas (JR, Henderson, CO/Garden City CC) doubled in Bierman and Kolisch to make it 7-3. Kate Johnson (JR, Cambridge, IL/Illinois Valley CC) walked to load them back up. A Carol Ann Weiler (SO,St. Peter's, MO/Ft. Zumwalt East HS) ground out advanced the runners with DeCock scoring. Kate Sullens (JR, Highland, IL/Southwestern Illinois College) singled in Cardenas to make it a 7-5 game.
The Valiants added on two runs in their half of the fifth, but Webster got one of those back in the sixth. Garza singled and Kolisch doubled to lead off the inning. Cardenas singled home Garza to cut the deficit to 9-6. Manhattanville scored two more insurance runs in its half of the sixth to make it the 11-6 final.
Chelsea Thornley (SO, Clinton, MO/Clinton HS) started on the mound for Webster and took the loss. Paige Prather (SR, Evansville, IN/Central HS) pitched the final four innings for the Gorloks.
Cardenas was 3-3 with three RBIs, a double, and run scored. Kolisch was 2-3 with a double, RBI, and run scored, and Garza was 2-3 with a run scored.
GAME TWO: Lakeland took a 4-0 lead in the top of the first. The Muskies had three singles and a walk, with a two-out double doing the most damage. After Lakeland made it 5-0 in the top of the third, a Weiler double and Johnson single put Webster on the board in the bottom half of the inning.
The Muskies added another in the fourth to make it 6-1, but the Gorloks made their move in their half. Coleman singled and Laura Zeegers (SR, Oviedo, FL/Leon HS) walked to lead off, then a Kayla Day (JR, Caruthers, CA /Wet Hills Coalinga CC) double drove in Coleman. Chyanne Fulmer (FR, DeSoto, IL.Carbondale HS) singled, scoring Zeegers and sending Day to third.
Johnson was hit by a pitch and Bierman pinch-ran for Fulmer, with the bases loaded. Weiler doubled in Day, Bierman, and Johnson to tie it up at 6-6 heading into the fifth. Tessa Johanning (SO, Sullivan, MO/Sullivan HS) took over on the mound in the fifth for starter Alexis Spriggs (JR, Scott City, MO/Scott HS). Spriggs went four innings and gave up six runs on nine hits.
The Muskies immediately took the lead again, 7-6, in the fifth. They would add three more insurance runs in the sixth to make it the 10-6 but the Gorloks made some noise in their half of the seventh.
Johanning and Coleman singled, and Zeegers walked to load the bases with none out. Day reached on a fielder's choice, with Zeegers out at second, but scoring Johanning. Garza doubled, scoring Coleman and Thornley, who pinch ran for Day, and it was 10-9 with one down. Kolisch and Johnson walked, loading the basesa back up with one down still. But the final two Gorloks were retired to end the rally.
Johanning wound up taking the loss, falling to 0-2, going three innings and giving up four runs on seven hits. Weiler was 2-4 with four RBIs, a double, and a walk. Day was 1-3, with a double, two RBIs, walk, and run scored. Johnson was 1-3, with a double, walk, and two runs, and Coleman was 2-4 with two runs scored.
The Gorloks finished the Florida trip 1-7 and have their home opener on March 12, vs. the University of Wisconsin-Platteville at Blackburn Park
