The Webster University softball team saw its 10-game win streak come to an end with a 4-2 loss to Bethel University (MN). The Gorloks also dropped the second game on the day, 9-1, to the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, on March 12 at the PFX Games in Clermont, FL.
Against Bethel, the Gorloks took a first inning, 1-0 lead. With two out, Kate Sullens (SR, Highland, IL/Highland) walked, and Abby Burroughs (FR, Edwardsville, IL/Triad) singled. Sidney Coleman (SR, Fredericksburg, VA/Fountain-Ft. Carson) followed with an RBI single, scoring Sullens.
The Royals took a 2-1 lead in the second off Webster starter Chelsea Thornley (JR, Clinton, MO/Clinton). After giving up a leadoff single, Thornley struck out the next two batters but was tagged for back to back doubles.
Kayla Day (SR, Caruthers, CA/Caruthers) hit a solo home run to center, her second of the season, to tie the game at 2-2 in the top of the fourth. Bethel came right back in its half to regain the lead, again with a two-out rally. Thornley struck out the first two batters, then gave up a double and single for a run and Webster trailed, 3-2. The Royals added an insurance run in the fifth, with a leadoff hit batsman scoring on a double with one down to make it 4-2. That would be the last run of the contest.
Webster had chances in the sixth and seventh to tie it up. Karissa Cardenas (SR, Henderson, CO/Prairie View) and Katlyn Garza (JR, O'Fallon, MO/Ft. Zumwalt North) had two out singles but were stranded in the sixth. In the seventh, Katelyn Johnson (SR, Cambridge, IL/Woodstock) reached on an error with one down and Burroughs doubled her to third with two down, but they were stranded as well.
Thornley went five innings, giving up eight hits, a walk, and four runs as she struck out a season high six. Thornley took her first loss of the season and is 5-1. Burroughs was 3-4 with a double and two runs scored, and Day was 1-3 with a home run and RBI.
In the loss to the Coast Guard Academy, the Bears took a 1-0 lead off Webster starter Alexis Spriggs (SR, Scott City, MO/Scott City) in the first. The Coast Guard added four more in the third and two in the fourth to build a 7-0 lead and coasted from there. Webster would break the shutout in the bottom of the seventh when Day doubled to lead off and scored on a sacrifice fly by Terri Dearth (JR, Lemont, IL/Mt. Assisi Academy) for the 9-1 final. The Gorloks were held to four hits in the contest.
Spriggs went four innings, giving up 10 hits and six earned runs before Morgan Mansur (JR, Decatur, IL/Mt. Zion) took over in the fifth. Mansur threw two scoreless innings before giving up two in the seventh. Day was 1-3 with a double for the Gorloks.
The 10-0 start to the season was Webster's second best in team history, exceeded only by a 21-0 start to the 2000 season. The Gorloks are now 10-2 on the year.
Bethel, a member of the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, is 1-2. The Coast Guard Academy, a member of the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference, improves to 8-1.
Webster continues its Florida trip with games against Millsaps College (MS) and Roger Williams University (RI) in Clermont on March 12.
