KISSIMMEE, Fla. – Webster University continued play here Saturday in the Diamond 9 Spring Games as the Gorloks fell to both Alfred University and 23rd-ranked Kean University at the Osceola County Softball Complex.
 
The Gorloks, who fell to 3-5 on the year with Saturday's two setbacks, opened the day with a 12-4 loss to Alfred University in a game halted in the sixth inning due to the 8-run mercy rule and then they fell 11-2 to Kean in the nightcap.
 
On the day, Webster's defense continued its early season struggles as they committed seven errors in Saturday's two games and those errors led to a total of seven unearned runs, including six unearned runs against Alfred.
 
One day after recording a total of 24 hits and scoring 20 runs, Webster's offense finished the day with a total of 15 hits but scored just six runs.
 
For the day, senior second baseman Tessa Johanning (Sullivan, Mo./Sullivan) had two hits in each game, while senior catcher Terri Dearth (Lemont, Ill./Southwestern Illinois) had three hits, all of which came against Kean. Senior first baseman Katlyn Garza (O'Fallon, Mo./Ft. Zumwalt North) and freshman leftfielder Skiela Martinez (Whittier, Calif./California) each had two hits on the day.
 
In Saturday's opener against Alfred, the Gorloks jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning as they used an RBI double by Johanning to score its first run and then Garza would follow with an RBI single for Webster's second run. Both of the runs were unearned thanks to an error by Saxons pitcher Shannon Schaefer.
 
The Gorloks grew their lead to 3-0 in the third inning on a double by Garza and an RBI single by Martinez.
 
Alfred (7-5) would respond by sending seven batters to the plate in the bottom of the third inning and scoring four unearned runs off of Webster senior pitcher Chelsea Thornley (Clinton, Mo./Clinton) thanks to a fielding error at first by Garza. The big hit in the inning was a 3-run double to left center by Becca Alexander. The Saxons other run came in on another RBI double, this one off the bat of Lu Krawczyk.
 
The Saxons lead grew to 8-3 in the fourth inning as they recorded four hits and took advantage of another Gorlok error to score four more runs. The big hit in the inning was a 2-run single by Chantel Singleton.
 
Webster would add its fourth run in the fifth inning thanks to singles by sophomore centerfielder Abby Burroughs (Edwardsville, Ill./Triad) and Johanning, a walk drawn by Garza to load the bases and then used an RBI groundout by junior third baseman Brienna Sheperd (Central Point, Ore./College of the Redwoods).
 
The Saxons, though, would end the game early in the bottom of the sixth inning as they added four more runs, including ending the game on a 3-run double to right center off the bat of Haley Powers. In the inning, the Gorloks committed two errors that led to two of those runs being unearned.
 
Thornley (0-3) took the loss for the Gorloks in the circle as she tossed 3.1 innings and allowed eight hits and six runs (2 earned runs), while walking none and fanning three. Sophomore Kaitlyn Johnson (East Alton, Ill./Greenville University) relieved Thornley in the fourth and pitched the final 1.2 innings and allowed five hits and six runs (4 earned), while not recording either a walk or strikeout.
 
Johanning and Garza combined for two hits apiece as the Gorloks had seven hits in the loss.
 
Alfred, who finished with 13 hits, was paced offensively by three hits from Singleton, while four others recorded two hits in the win.
 
Schaefer (5-2) earned the win in the circle for the Saxons as she tossed four innings and allowed five hits and three runs (one earned run), while walking two and fanning three.
 
Meanwhile, in the second game against Kean, the Cougars (3-0) jumped in front 1-0 in the first inning on a double and an RBI single by Jackie Riley.
 
Webster would tie the game in the bottom of the first thanks to three straight one-out singles by Dearth, Johanning, and Burroughs. Burroughs' single helped tie the game for the Gorloks.
 
The Cougars would retake the lead in the third inning thanks to four hits and a Webster error to push in front 3-1.
 
Kean would push its lead to 7-1 in the fifth inning as they recorded three hits and used a Gorlok error to score four runs. The big hit in the inning were a 2-run single by Cayleen Rizo and the Cougars also scored a run when Olivia Zengel was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded by senior pitcher Morgan Mansur (Decatur, Ill./Lincoln Land CC).
 
The Cougars lead grew to 8-1 in the sixth on a sacrifice fly by Riley.
 
Webster, though, would plate a run in the bottom of the sixth as Dearth led off the frame with a double, moved to third on a single by Johanning and scored on a one out single by Mansur. Kean would get out of the jam as Taryn DiGiacomo induced Sheperd to pop out and Thornley to ground out to end the inning.
 
Kean would add three more runs in the seventh on two hits and an error by Dearth behind the plate to push out to an 11-2 advantage.
 
In the bottom of the seventh, DiGiacomo retired the Gorloks in order to seal the win and improve to 2-0 on the season.
 
Mansur (2-2) took the loss in the circle as she pitched five innings and allowed nine hits and seven runs, while walking three and striking out one. The walks by Mansur were her first three of the season as she entered the game having not walked a batter in previous three appearances.
 
Dearth finished with three of Webster's eight hits, while Johanning had two hits in the loss.
 
Kean, who recorded 13 hits in the win, was paced by three hits from Julie Raba, while Maria Bonfanti, Samantha Krakower, Rizo and Zengel each had two hits.
 
DiGiacomo tossed a complete game as she allowed eight hits and two runs, while walking one and fanning one.
 
Webster will continue play in the Diamond 9 Spring Games on Sunday, March 11 as they face Arcadia University at 3:45 p.m. EDT and Eastern Connecticut State at 6 p.m. EDT.