JACKSONVILLE, Ill. - Webster University completed its doubleheader sweep here Tuesday against MacMurray College by earning an 8-0 win in five innings in the second game of its St. Louis Intercollegiate Conference softball doubleheader at Palmer Field over the Highlanders.
With the win in the nightcap, Webster improves to 9-21 overall and 6-10 in the league, while MacMurray falls to 3-23 overall and 2-12 in the league.
In the nightcap, Webster's offense collected six hits and scored four unearned runs thanks to three MacMurray errors. On the day, Webster's offense pounded out 17 hits, scored 22 runs and posted back-to-back mercy rule wins for the first time this season.
Webster opened the scoring in the nightcap by plating four runs on one hit and a MacMurray error to take a 4-0 lead. In the inning, freshman shortstop
Sheyla Iniguez (Riverside, Calif./Bloomington) was hit by a pitch with one out and moved to third when junior
Breelyn Craig (Victorville, Calif./Trinidad State) reached on a fielder's choice that led to an error by MacMurray third baseman Devin Battlefield that put Iniguez on third. Senior second baseman
Chelsea Snyder (Mount Vernon, Mo./Fort Scott CC) brought home two runs on her 2-run single to center and she would later score on a wild pitch and then later in the inning, senior third baseman
Brienna Sheperd (Central Point, Ore./College of the Redwoods) brought home the fourth when she was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.
MacMurray would put two runners on base thanks to an error by Iniguez at short and a walk issued by Craig, before Craig would get out of the jam by striking out Alexis Doyle and forcing Taylor Vieira to pop out.
The Gorloks extended its lead to 7-0 in the third inning as they used three hits and an error to plate three runs. Snyder brought home the first run on her single to left, while freshman rightfielder
Gabrielle Novak (St. Louis, Mo./Notre Dame) added the second run on a groundout and junior first baseman
Kaitlyn Johnson (East Alton, Ill./Greenville University) plated the third run on her sacrifice fly to center.
Webster's lead moved to 8-0 in the fourth inning on an RBI single to center by Iniguez. Iniguez's single brought home Sheperd, who reached on a one-out single and advanced to second on an error by MacMurray centerfielder Kerrigan Horn.
In the fifth, the Highlanders loaded the bases on two hits and an error, but failed to score any runs to seal Webster's two straight win.
Craig (5-5) picked up the win in the circle as she tossed all five innings and allowed three hits and no runs, while walking two and fanning a season high tying seven.
Kiersten Hann (2-12) took the loss for the Highlanders as she tossed two innings and allowed one hit and four runs (one earned run), while walking four.
Snyder and Iniguez paced Webster with two hits apiece, while Snyder added a career high 3 RBI.
Meka Elmore had two of MacMurray's three hits.
The Gorloks will close out SLIAC play this coming Saturday, April 20 as they travel to Elsah, Ill., for a doubleheader against Principia College. First pitch of Saturday's doubleheader is scheduled for 1 p.m.
