CLERMONT, Fla. - Webster University closed out play here Wednesday in the 2020 PFX Spring Games by splitting its final two games at Legends Way Complex. 

The Gorloks, who are now 6-8 on the season and finished 5-5 on its Spring Break trip to Florida, opened Wednesday's play by posting a 9-4 win over UMass-Dartmouth and then suffering a hard-fought 1-0 setback to Concordia-Chicago. 

On the day, Webster's offense had 15 hits, including 12 hits in the win of UMD, but its was its defense that let them down against CUC as the Gorloks committed four errors, including an error on the play that allowed the Cougars to score the only run of the game. 

Along with a strong offense, the Gorloks also got strong pitching from junior Kirbie Mendenhall (Robinson, Ill./Parkland College) as she pitched a combined 12 innings on the day as she pitched five innings in relief against UMD and then tossed a complete game against CUC. On the day, Mendenhall, who went 1-1 on the day, allowed nine hits, two runs (one earned run), walked two and struck out eight. 

In the game against UMass-Dartmouth, the Gorloks jumped on the Corsairs in the top of the first inning as they recorded four hits and took advantage of a UMD error to score five runs. In the inning, five of the first six Gorloks hitters reached base and four of those players scored in the inning, including junior rightfielder Chloe Johnson (Hazelwood, Mo./STLCC) drawing a bases loaded walk and sophomore second baseman Taylor Jackson (Calgary, Alberta/Bishop Grandin) scoring on a wild pitch. 

UMD would score a run in the bottom of the first inning thanks to a walk, a stolen base and an RBI single by Lindsay Chubbick off of sophomore Arianna Arias (Pomona, Calif./Bishop Amat). 

The Gorloks lead grew to 7-1 in the top of the second as they used a hit and two Corsair errors to plate two unearned runs, which came after Jackson reached base on a fielding error by shortstop Leah Major. The only hit in the inning was a double by senior thrid baseman Avery Boccella (Gilbert, Ariz./Trinidad State), who finished the game going 3-for-3 at the plate with two runs and an RBI.

UMD would cut Webster's lead to 7-3 in the bottom of the second as they used two hits and two Gorlok errors to plate the two runs. 

In the fourth, Webster added another run as sophomore catcher Emma Steltzer (Manchester, Mo./University of New Mexico) led off with a single, moved to third on a double by Boccella and scored on an RBI single to center off the bat of Jackson, who had two hits and 2 RBI in the win. 

A double and a single in the bottom of the fourth off of Mendenhall brought UMD within 8-4. 

The Gorloks, though, would plate its ninth and final run in the top of the sixth as Steltzer led off with a single, moved to second when Boccella was hit by a pitch and after Jackson reached on a fielder's choice to erase Steltzer at third base, Johnson followed with an RBI single deep to the fence in center.

Mendenhall would then retire the Corsairs in order in both the sixth and seventh innings to seal the win. 

In addition to Boccella's 3-for-3 effort at the plate, Steltzer also had three hits as she was 3-for-5 with three runs scored, while sophomore shortstop Sheyla Iniguez (Riverside, Calif./Bloomington) also had two hits on four at-bats. 

Chubbick had two hits to pace UMD, who also stole three bases against the Gorloks. 

The teams combined for five errors as UMD had three errors and Webster finished with two errors. 

Jill Richards (0-2) took the loss for the Corsairs as she only recorded one out as she faced six batters and allowed four hits and five runs (four earned), while walking one and striking out none. 

Meanwhile, in the second game, the only run came home in the top of the seventh as both pitchers - Mendenhall for Webster and Holly Bathje - were locked into a scoreless duel for much of the game

Mendenhall (2-2) pitched all seven innings and allowed six hits, one unearned, walked two and struck out four, while Bathje was just as effective as she pitched all seven inning and allowed three hits and no runs, while walking two and striking out one. 

The shutout was the second of the season for the Gorloks. 

In the second inning, Webster put two runners on base thanks to walk from Boccella and a single by junior designated player Amanda Kraus (Valley Park, Mo./Valley Park), but Bathje got out of the jam by forcing senior centerfielder Breelyn Craig (Victorville, Calif./Trinidad State) to pop out to end the inning. 

CUC put runners on base in the top of the third thanks to a single and walk with two outs, but Mendenhall would get out of the jam by inducing a ground out to Becky Pieroni. 

In the fifth, the Cougars also put two more runners on base thanks to a single and a Gorlok error, but Mendenhall would force Pieroni to fly out to end the inning.

The Gorloks appeared poised to break the scoreless tie in the bottom of the fifth as Kraus reached on a one-out single and Craig reached on an error to put runners on first and second with one out, but Bathje would get out of the jam by inducing Iniguez to line out and forcing senior leftfielder Abby Burroughs (Edwardsville, Ill./Triad) to fly out to end the inning. 

CUC would open the sixth as Kacey Powers reached on an error and after moving to second on a passed ball, Sydney Paulauskia-Lauher would drill a Mendenhall pitch to left for a double, but Powers was caught napping on the bases and was only able to reach third. Mendenhall, though, would battle back as she retired the next three Cougars in order to end the inning. 

Webster put a runner on second with a one-out double by Steltzer, but Bathje would keep Steltzer on second as she retired the next two Gorloks in order to keep the game scoreless. 

In the top of the seventh, Nikita Robbins reached on a one-out single, moved to second on a single by Sydney Sterrett and Robbins would score when Pieroni reached on a ground ball to Iniguez to short that was booted into the outfield and allowed Robbins to score the only run of the game. Mendenhall, though, would get out of the jam without anymore damage. 

The Gorloks would go down in order in the seventh to seal CUC's win.

Kraus had two of Webster's three hits against the Cougars. 

Sterrett and Paulauskia-Lauher each had two hits for the Cougars, who had six hits in game. 

The teams would combine to leave 15 runners on base as CUC stranded nine and Webster left six on base.

Webster will next be in action on Saturday, March 21 as they travel to Jacksonville, Ill., for a doubleheader against Illinois College. The doubleheader will begin at 1 p.m.