The Webster University softball team finished its road trip 4-0 with a 6-5 win in eight innings over Kenyon College, and an 11-5 win over host Rhodes College, on February 26 in Memphis, TN. The 4-0 start is Webster's best start since 2002. The Gorloks continued their offensive barrage as solid relief pitching in both victories made a winner out of Chelsea Thornley.
In game one, unlike its two wins yesterday when it overpowered with offense, Webster needed just five hits to generate the six runs needed to win. The Gorloks trailed 1-0 early in the contest but rallied for a four-run fourth.
Tessa Johanning (JR, Sullivan, MO/Sullivan) singled leading off and Morgan Mansur (JR, Decatur, IL/Mt. Zion) reached on an error. Chyanne Fulmer (SO, DeSoto, IL/Carbondale) was hit by a pitch, loading the bases, and when Emily Kolisch (SR, St. Louis, MO/Incarnate Word) was hit also, that forced in Johanning. Taylor White (FR, St. Charles, MO/Lutheran St. Charles) singled, driving in Mansur, and Fulmer scored on a groundout by Katelyn Johnson (SR, Cambridge, IL/Woodstock) as all the runners moved up. A Kate Sullens (SR, Highland, IL/Highland) groundout scored Kolisch and Webster had a 4-1 lead.
Kenyon picked up a run in the bottom of the fourth off starter Mansur to make it a 4-2 game. Webster would pick that run back up in the fifth when Johannng reached on an error, Mansur walked, and Johanning scored on an infield single by Kolisch.
Kenyon had back to back doubles to lead off the bottom of the fifth, and after an error with two down, a triple by the Crusaders prompted a call to the bullpen for Chelsea Thornley (JR, Clinton, MO/Clinton). Thornley got the last out, but Kenyon had tied the game at 5-5.
Thornley got out of a two on, two out jam in the bottom of the seventh to send it to extra innings. In softball, a runner is placed at second base to start the inning in extras and each team gets an at bat.
Karissa Cardenas (SR, Henderson, CO/Prairie View) was placed at second to start the inning and sacrificed to third by Kolisch. With White at the plate, Cardenas scored on a wild pitch, giving Webster a 6-5 leading heading into the bottom of the eighth. With the runner at second, Thornley got a ground out, that moved to runner to third, but a liner to short and a grounder to second ended the game, giving Thornley and Webster the win.
Thornley went 3 1/3 innings of scoreless relief, giving up just one hit and one walk in gaining the victory. Kolisch was 2-2 with two RBIs and a run scored. The Gorloks only had five hits, but they parlayed them into six runs in the win.
In the game two win over Rhodes, the Lynx took a 1-0 lead in the first, but a Kayla Day home run with two out in the top of the second tied it up. A pair of walks by Webster starter Alexis Spriggs and a passed ball led to a Lynx run in the second as they regained the lead, 2-1. But it was short term as the Gorlok bats came alive in the third.
Katelyn Johnson singled with one down. Abby Burroughs singled with two away and Sidney Coleman doubled them both in for a 3-2 lead. Tessa Johanning drove Coleman in with a single and Day moved her over to third with a double. Terri Dearth pinch-ran for Day and a Karissa Cardenas single plated her and Johanning for a 6-2 lead.
Webster broke out the bats again in the fourth. Johnson doubled to lead off and, with one down, Burroughs singled home Johnson. Coleman followed with a single and a Johanning walk loaded them up. Day followed with another double, scoring Burroughs and Coleman for a 9-2 lead.
Spriggs walked a pair and gave up a single for a run to start the Lynx fourth. Rhodes picked up another run on a groundout and a Gorlok error led to a third. After Spriggs hit the next batter, Thornley was summoned from the bullpen. Thornley coaxed a groundout for the second out and after a walk, struck out the next batter to end the threat as Webster still led 9-5.
In the fifth, Webster picked up a single run on a single by White, and after a steal of second, she was sacrificed to third. White would score on a ground ball error on Sullens for a 10-5 Webster lead.
Johnson and Sullens singled to open the seventh, and Johnson scored on a single by Burroughs to extend the lead to 11-5.
Thornley retired the side in the seventh for her second win of the day and third of the young season. She pitched a scoreless 3 2/3 innings, giving up no hits and two walks.
Day wound up 3-4 with a home run, two doubles, and three RBIs. Burroughs was 3-5 with two RBIs and two runs scored. Coleman was 2-5 with a double, two RBIs and two runs, and Johnson was 3-4 with three runs scored and a double.
Webster 4-0 start is the best since 2002 when the team won its first nine games. The team's best start overall was in 2000 when the Gorloks went 21-0 before their first loss. Webster's home opener is on March 2 with a doubleheader vs. Robert Morris University-Springfield at Blackburn Park.
