JACKSONVILLE, Ill. - Webster University Softball hit the road for the first time in the 2021 season here Wednesday afternoon as the Gorloks split a non-conference doubleheader against Illinois College at Kamp Softball Field. 

In the opener, the Gorloks were outhit 7-6, but used a complete game pitching performance from senior Morgan Parrish (Lawrenceville, Ill./Parkland College) to earn a 2-1 win in the opener, but couldn't overcome 14 hits and a five runs in the opening three innings by Illinois College in the nightcap.

With the doubleheader split, the Gorloks record moves to 4-2 on the season, while Illinois College falls to 4-8. 

In the two games on Wednesday, Webster finished with 11 hits, including senior rightfielder Anna Muecke (Lueneburg, Germany/Spartanburg Methodist) going 3-for-5 at the plate, while sophomore first Ashlee Seltzer (Highlands Ranch, Colo./Rock Canyon) had two hits, both of which came in the opener. 

The Gorloks opened Wednesday's action by using one hit and taking advantage of two IC errors to score a run and take a 1-0 lead. In the inning, Mueke reached on an infield single and advanced to second on the play thanks to an error by IC catcher AnnaBeth Batson. Muecke would then move to third on a grounder by junior shortstop Sheyla Iniguez (Riverside, Calif./Bloomington) and score on an error by IC third baseman Jessica Belzer during Iniguez's grounder. 

IC would put two runners on the base in the bottom of the first against Parrish, but she would get out of the jam after Emma Nicholson was out on a batter's interference to end the inning. 

In the third, IC once again put two runners on base thanks to infield singles by Sam Seggerman and Madisyn Webster, but Parrish would once again leave those runners on base as she forced Mackenzy Payne to ground out to end the inning. 

The Gorloks would push its lead to 2-0 in the top of the fourth as Seltzer reached on a two-out double to left center and then senior third baseman Alyssa McWilliams (Windsor, Colo./CSU-Pueblo) delivered an RBI single to center off of Sydney Hood that allowed freshman pinch runner Kaelyn Kearney (Draper, Utah/Corner Canyon) to score the second run. 

IC would plate a run in the bottom of the fourth on an RBI double to left by Batson. Batson's double dropped WU's lead to 2-1.

In the seventh, IC put two runners on base, including the winning run on first, but Parrish would end the game by forcing Maddy Morgan to fly out to left to seal her first win of the season. 

Parrish would scatter seven hits and allow one run, while walking two and striking out four on her 101 pitch outing. With her effort on Wednesday, Parrish lowered her ERA to a team-best 0.39. 

Muecke and Seltzer had two of Webster's six hits in the opener, while Webster went 3-for-4 for IC in the loss. 

Hood (2-4) took the loss in the circle as she allowed six hits and two runs (one earned) in seven innings, while walking none and striking out six.

IC left eight runners on base, while Webster stranded three and both teams turned a double play.

Meanwhile, in the nightcap, Webster allowed 14 hits and IC managed to score five of their runs in the opening three innings. 

IC got the scoring started in the bottom of the first as they used three hits and a wild pitch to score a run, which came on an RBI single to Jenna Wright. 

The Gorloks would tie the game in the second as they used three singles from senior third baseman Avery Boccella (Gilbert, Ariz./Trinidad State), freshman catcher Paige Thomas (Emporia, Kan./Emporia) and Kearney with the latter single driving home Boccella with the run.

IC would get that run back in the bottom of the second thanks to a lead-off double by Jada Johnson and a fielder's choice grounder.

The Lady Blues added two more runs in the bottom of the third as they had four hits and used two passed balls by Thomas to plate those two runs and take a 4-1 lead in the game. 

 IC would complete the scoring in the bottom of the sixth inning as they used three singles, including an RBI single by Belzer to give IC a 5-1 lead. 

Alyssa Hodge, who pitched a complete game for the Lady Blues, retired the Gorloks in order in the top of the seventh inning to end the game. 

Junior Arianna Arias (Pomona, Calif./Bishop Amat) started in the circle for the Gorloks and earned this loss (0-1) she pitched three innings and allowed nine hits and four runs, while walking one and striking out two. Senior Kirbie Mendenhall (Robinson, Ill./Parkland College) pitched the final three innings and allowed five hits and one run, while walking and striking out no one. 

Hodge pitched a complete game five hitter as she walked one and struck out three to improve to 1-1 on the year.

Five different Gorloks recorded a hit in the nightcap, while all nine IC starters tallied at least a hit in the game, including Emma Nicholson, Webster, Belzer, Johnson and Sam Seggerman each had two hits for the Lady Blues. 

The teams combined to leave 14 runners on base in the nightcap as IC left eight runners stranded and Webster left six on base. 

Webster will now take 11 days off before returning to action on Sunday, March 21 as they host Rose-Hulman in a doubleheader beginning at 12 p,m. at St. Joseph's Academy, which is serving as the new home field for the Gorloks softball program.