Riding an eight-game win streak, the Webster University softball team broke out the lumber as they pounded Robert Morris College, 15-12, on April 20 in Springfield, IL. The Gorloks made it nine straight as they banged out 16 hits. The scheduled game two was cancelled due to rain.
Erin McGinnis (SR, Fenton, MO/Rockwood Summit HS) got the Gorloks started off with a two-run double in the first inning, scoring Kate Sullens (JR, Highland, IL/Highland HS) and Katelyn Johnson (JR, Cambridge, IL/Woodstock HS) for a 2-0 lead. Webster then unleashed a nine-run barrage in the second inning, highlighted by a Sidney Coleman (JR, Fredericksburg, VA/Fountain-Ft. Carson HS) three-run homer, her team-leading fourth of the season.
Eight different Gorloks had hits in the second, featuring doubles by Katlyn Garza (SO, O'Fallon, MO/Ft. Zumwalt North HS), Sullens, and Tessa Johanning (SO. Sullivan, MO/Sullivan HS), in addition to Coleman's clout. Webster had amassed 13 hits after two innings and led, 11-0.
Webster tacked on two more in the third. McGinnis scored on an error by the Eagles second baseman on grounder by Garza. A Karissa Cardenas (JR, Henderson, CO/Prairie View HS) single sent home Johanning to make it 13-0.
The Eagles made it a little uncomfortable by scoring three runs in the third and five in the fourth. Starter Johanning gave up three hits and a walk for three runs in the third, and the Eagles chased her in the fourth after three walks and two hits. Chelsea Thornley (SO, Clinton, MO/Clinton HS) was called on with six runs in, and runners at the corners with one down. After a single cut the Gorlok's lead to 13-7, Thornley struck out the next batter. The Eagles added another when the Gorloks caught a runner trying to take third on a grounder, but not before the lead runner had crossed the plate and it was a 13-8 game.
Webster added two more runs in the sixth after two walks and an error loaded the bases. Emily Kolisch (JR, St. Louis, MO/Incarnate Word Academy) walked in Cardenas for an RBI and an error by the shortstop on a ball off the bat of McGinnis scored Johnson. The Gorloks led, 15-8.
Robert Morris had one last rally in the sixth, scoring four runs. Thornley allowed a double and a home run to start the inning. After retiring the next two batters, Thornley hit a batter and the next hit a two-run homer as well to make it 15-12. Thornley struck out the next hitter to end the threat. She retired the side in the seventh to pick up her fifth win of the year and evened her record at 5-5.
Coleman was 2-5 with a home run and double, two RBIs and run scored. Sullens was 3-4 with a double, RBI, walk, and run scored. Cardenas was 3-5 with two RBIs and two runs scored, and McGinnis 2-5 with three RBIs, double, and two runs scored. Johanning was 2-4 with a double, two runs scored and an RBI.
Thornley wound up going 3 2/3 innings, giving up four hits and four runs, while striking out five for the win.
Webster travels to Mt. Pleasant, IA, on April 23 to face Iowa Wesleyan University in a doubleheader.
.
