The Webster University softball team had two walk-off 'five inning rule' wins, beating the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, 8-0 and 9-1, on March 4 at Blackburn Park. The Gorloks once again utilized the big inning in both games, with a seven-run first in the opener and an eight-run fifth in the nightcap.
In the
game one victory, Webster scored seven runs with two out in the bottom of the first. Taylor White (FR, St. Charles, MO/Lutheran St. Charles) doubled to lead off and with one out, Kate Sullens (SR, Highland, IL/Highland) walked. With two down, after fouling off six pitches on a full count, Sidney Coleman (SR, Fredericksburg, VA/Fountain-Ft. Carson) homered to center field to make it 3-0.
Starting pitcher Morgan Mansur (JR, Decatur, IL/Mt. Zion) followed with a single, Katlyn Garza (JR, O'Fallon, MO/Ft. Zumwalt North) walked, and Karissa Cardenas singled up the middle to score Mansur. Emily Kolisch (SR, St. Louis, MO/Incarnate Word) reached on a fielder's choice/E6 to load them back up. White walked to score Garza and Johnson singled up the middle to score two more and Webster led 7-0.
In the fifth, Kolisch led off with a walk and took second on a passed ball with one down. Johnson had a walk-off' single into right as Kolisch scored the eighth run, as the 'five inning rule', a lead of eight runs from the fifth inning on, went into to effect and Webster had an 8-0 victory.
Mansur had a five-inning shutout for the win, improving to 3-0 on the season. She allowed three hits, walked none, and struck out six. Coleman was 3-3 with a home run, double, and three RBIs. Johnson was 2-4 with three RBIs.
The Gorloks got it started in the fourth inning in
game two. Kayla Day (SR, Caruthers, CA/Caruthers) walked with one down and Terri Dearth (JR, Lemont, IL/Mt. Assisi Academy) followed with a single. After Day was forced at third for the second out, Kolisch reached on an error as Dearth scored the game's first run. The Pioneers tied the game with a run off Webster starter Alexis Spriggs (SR, Scott City, MO/Scott City), who had thrown four scoreless innings.
Webster scored eight runs in the bottom of the fifth to secure the win. Sullens singled, Burroughs walked, and Coleman was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Day hit a two-run single off the center field fence, plating Sullens and Burroughs to make it 3-1. Dearth followed with a sky high pop fly that dropped between the left and center fielders for a double, scoring Coleman and pinch-runner Austin Peterson (FR, Lake Ozark, MO/School of the Osage).
Cardenas singled and Kolisch was hit by a pitch to load the bases back up. White hit into a fielder's choice at third, with Dearth crossing the plate for Webster's sixth run. Johnson walked to load them up again for the Gorloks. Sullens had an infield single to score Kolisch and White, as the ball eluded the first baseman and Johnson took third A walk-off wild pitch scored Johnson for the inning's eighth run, once again ending the game on the 'fifth inning rule', 9-1.
Spriggs pitched all five innings, giving up just two hits and no earned runs, walking none and striking out three. She is now 1-0 on the season.
Dearth was 2-2 with an RBI, double, walk, and two runs scored. Sullens was 2-4 with two RBIs and a run scored, and Day was 1-2 with two RBIs and a walk.
Webster's 8-0 start is its best since 2002 when they opened at 9-0. Platteville fell to 0-2, seeing its first action of the year. Webster will head to Florida for its spring break, playing eight games vs. eight different opponents from March 10-14. The Gorloks don't return to Blackburn till March 29 vs. Eureka College (IL).
