BELLEVILLE, Ill. - Wednesday's softball doubleheader in Webster Groves, Mo., between Webster University and Iowa Wesleyan University has been tabbed as this week's St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Game of the Week. First pitch for Wednesday's doubleheader at Blackburn Park is set for 4 p.m.
Webster comes into Wednesday's doubleheader sporting a 6-18 overall record and os 3-7 in the SLIAC after sweeping a doubleheader on Tuesday at Fontbonne as the Gorloks won the opening game of the doubleheader, 7-5 behind a 2-run homer in the bottom of the sixth by junior centerfielder
Abby Burroughs (Edwardsville, Ill./Triad) and then earned a 3-2 win in nine innings in the nightcap thanks to a walk-off single by junior catcher
Darian Morlan (Duchesne, Utah/Trinidad State).
Iowa Wesleyan comes into the doubleheader having won six straight games and is sporting a 15-6 overall and a 6-2 record in the SLIAC. The Tigers haven't played since picking up a doubleheader sweep at home against Fontbonne as they won 4-0 and 10-2 respectively.
|
At a Glance
This week's Game of the Week is a softball doubleheader between Iowa Wesleyan University and Webster University. Iowa Wesleyan is looking to snap a six-game losing streak to Webster while Webster is looking to stop a five-game skid. The two teams will meet on Wednesday in St. Louis, Mo. with first pitch at 3 p.m.
|
 |
Iowa Wesleyan University 'TIGERS'
Iowa Wesleyan is off to a 15-6 start this season, already the most wins in a season since 2014 when they had 17. They need just three more wins to set a new high since joining the SLIAC. Iowa Wesleyan is 6-2 in the SLIAC, tied for 3rd place in the standings and have won six straight.
They are hitting .355 as a team and have scored 141 runs this season while maintaining the league's best team E.R.A. with a 3.12 mark. Much of their success is due to the arrival of junior Morgan Christner. Christner is hitting .455 with 27 runs batted in while also holding a 9-3 pitching record with a SLIAC best 112 strikeouts. Not to be overlooked are Allison Daum (.438) and Emma McDaniel (.413) who keep the lineup rolling. Kayla Ford is hitting .391 and has a team-high 25 runs scored while Ashley Machholz is hitting .385. Alex Eyman is batting .356 with 22 RBI.
|
 |
Webster University 'GORLOKS'
Webster is 6-18 overall and 3-7 in the SLIAC this season. They have dropped five of its last seven games overall with the two wins coming on Tuesday against Fontbonne. The Gorloks are hitting .266 as a team and have scored 74 times in their 22 games this season. They carry a 6.67 earned-run average into the week.
Sophomore Amanda Kraus (Valley Park, Mo./Valley Park) is hitting .423 this season, in limited duty to pace the Gorloks offense. Senior third baseman Brienna Sheperd (Central Point, Ore./College of the Redwoods) is batting .326 with 6 RBI and has a .383 on-base percentage. Freshman leftfielder Taylor Jackson (Calgary, Alberta/Bishop Grandin) (.298) and freshman shortstop Sheyla Iniguez (Riverside, Calif./Bloomington) (.296) are a pair of freshman that have shown bright spots already this spring. Burroughs has struggled to find open spots with a .191 average but leads the team with 12 RBI and 4 home runs. Freshman Arianna Arias (Pomona, Calif./Bishop Amat) has thrown a team-high 48 innings this year with junior Kaitlyn Johnson (East Alton, Ill./Greenville University) and junior Breelyn Craig (Victorville, Calif./Trinidad State) following in the rotation.
|
|
|
Game Notes
- Webster leads the all-time series against Iowa Wesleyan 7-3 including winning the last six games.
- Iowa Wesleyan has already totaled six wins in conference play this year, their third-highest total since joining the league. They had a record 9 wins in 2014 and picked up 7 in 2017.
- Webster is under the direction of first-year head coach Katie Griffith.
- Iowa Wesleyan's Morgan Christner is currently leading the SLIAC pitching triple crown; leading the league in E.R.A., Wins, and Strikeouts.
- Burroughs not only leads Webster with four home runs this season but is 5th in the SLIAC.
