The Webster University softball team had a double header sweep of Fontbonne University, 2-1 and 9-1 (6 inn), on April 19 at Blackburn Park. The Gorloks snapped an 11-game losing streak to the Griffins in a big way, with two solid starting performances by Morgan Mansur and Alexis Spriggs.
In the Webster first in
game one, Katelyn Johnson (SR, Cambridge, IL/Woodstock) and Abby Burroughs (FR, Edwardsville, IL/Triad) singled. Kayla Day (SR, Caruthers, CA/Caruthers) singled, scoring Johnson, but Day was thrown out trying to take second as Burroughs took third. Emily Kolisch (SR, St. Louis, MO/Incarnate Word Academy) followed with a single to score Burroughs and Webster led, 2-0.
Fontbonne hit a solo home run off Webster starter Mansur (JR, Decatur, IL/Mt. Zion) in the third to cut the lead to 2-1.
Mansur was in a jam in the sixth with the bases loaded and one down. A fly ball to Kolisch recorded the second out and her strong throw to the plate made the runner at third hold, but the ball skipped away from Fulmer and the runner at third tried to score. Fulmer ran the ball down and flipped back to Mansur, who was covering, to nail the sliding runner at the plate for the third out. The Gorloks escaped with their 2-1 lead intact.
Mansur retired the side in the seventh for her ninth win of the season. She gave up six hits, walked three, gave up one run, and struck out four. Mansur is now 9-3 on the season.
Kolisch was 1-3 with an RBI and double, and Day was 1-3 with an RBI. Dearth and Johnson were 1-3 with a run scored.
The Gorloks sprinted to a 4-0 lead in the first inning of
game two. Sullens singled, Johnson walked, and Burroughs singled to load the bases. With one out, Kolisch hit into a fielder's choice, forcing Sullens at the plate. But with two down, the Gorloks had back to back doubles by Terri Dearth (JR, Lemont, IL/Mt. Assisi Academy) and Katlyn Garza (JR, O'Fallon, MO/Ft. Zumwalt North), each scoring two runs.
In the Webster second, Sullens walked to lead off and Johnson was hit by a pitch. Burroughs singled, scoring Sullens, making it 5-0. Webster starter Spriggs (SR, Scott City, MO/Scott City) gave up a solo home run in the third as Fontbonne cut it to a 5-1 lead.
Kolisch showed off her arm again in the Fontbonne fifth. Corralling a ball hit just over her head, at the fence, Kolisch turned and threw a strike to second to nab the sliding runner trying to stretch her hit into a double. The Gorloks added onto their lead in the bottom of the fifth.
With one out, Dearth walked and Garza singled. Karissa Cardenas (SR, Henderson, CO/Henderson) hit a one-hopper to the Griffin pitcher, who threw the ball away trying to force Dearth at third, with Dearth scoring. Webster led 6-1.
In the sixth, Johnson was hit by a pitch and Day singled. A wild pitch sent Johnson to third and pinch-runner Sidney Coleman (SR, Fredericksburg, VA/Fountain/Ft. Carson) to second. Kolisch walked to load the bases. Garza followed with a walk-off single that cleared the bases for a 9-1 lead, and an eight-run rule win.
Spriggs went six innings, giving up three hits, two walks, and one run. She struck out two in the game and is now 7-5 on the season with the win. Garza was 3-3 with five RBIs and Dearth was 1-2 with two RBIs and three runs scored. Burroughs was 2-4 with an RBI and run scored.
Webster is 11-5 in the SLIAC and 23-12 overall. Fontbonne is now 9-3 and 11-15. Fontbonne has won the SLIAC regular season title the last six years in a row. The Griffins 11-game win streak vs. the Gorloks went by the boards after Webster's victory in the opener.
Webster travels to Jacksonville, IL, on April 21 to play a double header vs. MacMurray College to wrap up play in the SLIAC. The Gorloks end the regular season with a double header vs. Rose-Hulman Institute on April 27 in Terre Haute, IN.
