ELSAH, Ill. - Webster University Softball closed out the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference portion of its schedule here Saturday as the Gorloks split a doublheader against Principia College at the Principia Softball Field.

The Gorloks opened Saturday's doubleheader with a 7-1 win thanks to three hits from freshman leftfielder Taylor Jackson (Calgary, Alberta/Bishop Grandin) and a 3-hit complete game pitching gem from junior Breelyn Craig (Victorville, Calif./Trinidad State), before the Panthers picked up a 5-2 win in the nightcap to snap a 23 game losing skid.  

With the split, Webster moves its record to 10-22 overall and finishes 7-11 in the SLIAC, while Principia is now 4-24 overall and 1-15 in the league.

In the doubleheader, Webster's offense had 17 hits, including 14 hits in the opener and did not commit an error on defense in the two games.

Jackson had four of those 17 hits, including going 3-for-4 with three runs scored in the opener, while freshman rightfielder Haley Kesler (Bell City, Mo./Scott County Central) added three hits.

Webster jumped in front 3-0 in the first inning of Saturday's opener thanks to an RBI single by junior catcher Darian Morlan (Duchesne, Utah/Trinidad State) and a 2-run double off the bat of freshman shortstop Sheyla Iniguez (Riverside, Calif./Bloomingdale).

The Panthers, though, got one of those runs back in the bottom of the first on an RBI double by Hannah Hathaway off of Craig.

Webster extended its lead to 6-1 in the top of the fourth as they plated three runs thanks to three hits and two Principia errors. In the inning, Craig reached on a single and moved to second on an error by Hathaway at shortstop and scored on a double by Kesler. Later in the inning, Jackson reached on a double, moved to third when junior centerfielder Abby Burroughs (Edwardsvlle, Ill./Triad) reached on an error by Elise Doyle in left and scored on another error in left by Doyle.

In the sixth, Webster completed the scoring on an RBI single by Burroughs, which plated Jackson, who doubled with one out in the inning off of Leah Schaefer.

Craig would then retired the final six Principia hitters in order to secure her team leading sixth win of the season and seal her three complete game of the year. In seven innings, Craig scattered three hits and allowed one run, while walking one and fanning a season and career high eight. 

Jackson paced Webster's offense in the opener as she was 3-for-4 at the plate with three runs scored, while Burroughs, Iniguez and Craig and Kesler each added two hits in the opener. 

Schaefer (3-18) took the loss for the Panthers as she tossed all seven innings and allowed 14 hits and seven runs (six earned), while striking out two and walking none. 

Ashley Noville had two of Principia's three hits in the first game.

Meanwhile, in the nightcap, the Panthers, who had lost 20 straight SLIAC games dating to last season prior the win in Saturday's second game of the doubleheader, jumped in front 3-0 in the bottom of the first thanks to a 2-run double by Lauren Daugherty and an RBI double by Schaefer off of freshman starting pitcher Arianna Arias (Pomona, Calif./Bishop Amat). 

The Gorloks pulled within 3-2 in the top of the third thanks to a 2-run homer by Jackson off of Schaefer, who started both games on Saturday in the circle. The homer by Jackson was her second of the season and pushed her season hit total to 32, which is tops on the team.

Principia would push its lead to 5-2 in the bottom of the fifth thanks to run scoring singles by both Hathaway and Schaefer. 

In the top of the sixth, Jackson walked to open the inning, but she would later be erased on an inning ending double play off the bat of freshman Haley Johnson (East Alton, Ill./Alton Marquette), who was pinch hitting for Morlan. 

The Gorloks would put a runner on base in the seventh thanks to a two-out pinch hit single by Kesler, but Kesler would be left stranded on base as sophomore designated player Amanda Kraus (Valley Park, Mo./Valley Park) grounded out to first unassisted to end the game and seal Principia's win.

Arias (3-7) took the loss in the circle for the Gorloks as she tossed her team leading fourth complete game as she allowed 10 hits and five runs, while striking a season high eight. 

Schaefer (4-18) picked up the win as she tossed all seven innings and scattered three hits and allowed two runs, while walking two and striking out one. 

Hathaway, Daugherty and Schaefer each had two hits in the nightcap. Four of Principia's seven hits in the nightcap went for doubles. 

In addition to Jackson and Kesler, Webster's other hit in the nightcap came from senior second baseman Chelsea Snyder (Mount Vernon, Mo./Fort Scott CC). 

The Gorloks will close out the 2019 season with a non-conference doubleheader on Tuesday, April 23 at WashU beginning at 3 p.m. in Clayton, Mo.