CLAYTON, Mo. - Webster University picked up a program statement win here Wednesday afternoon as the Gorloks collected eight hits and used a 3-run homer off the bat of fifth-year senior Abby Burroughs (Edwardsville, Ill./Triad) in the sixth inning to post an impressive 4-1 victory over WashU in a non-conference game at the WU Softball Field. 

The win was just the second win for the Gorloks over the Bears in their last 14 meetings and first since picking up a 5-0 win in the second game of a doubleheader on March 4, 2018, as WashU now holds a 21-12 advantage in the all-time series. 

With the win, Webster improves to 5-3 on the season, while WashU falls to 4-6 on the year. 

With the scored tied at 1-all entering the sixth inning, the Gorloks opened the inning with a lead-off single by sophomore first baseman Ashlee Seltzer (Highlands Ranch, Colo./Rock Canyon) and then senior designated player Chloe Johnson (Hazelwood, Mo./STLCC) followed with a double to put runners on second and third. The next batter was Burroughs, who had opened the season with just two hits in her first 19 at-bats, but this time she stepped to the plate and delivered as the three-time All-St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference performer drilled a Madison Denton pitch over the fence for a 3-run homer. 

The homer was the first of the season for Webster and the 18th of her career, which is sixth all-time in school history. In fact, the homer, which was Burroughs' only hit in the game, snapped an 0-for-14 slump for one of the top hitters in the program's history. 

Following Burroughs' homer, senior Avery Boccella (Gilbert, Ariz./Trinidad State) then reached on a single to left that chased Denton from the game. Emma Urban would then come over in the circle and she would retire the next three Gorloks in order to keep the Gorlok lead to just three runs. 

That 3-run cushion is all that Webster senior pitcher Morgan Parrish (Lawrenceville, Ill./Parkland College) would need as she would retire six of the final seven batters she faced to collect her complete game victory. 

Parrish (2-1) was very effective in Wednesday's game as she allowed just two hits and one run, while walking three and striking out a season high eight in tossing her second complete game of the year. On the season, Parrish has recorded an 0.98 ERA and leads the team in appearances (5), starts (4), complete games (2), innings pitched (27.2) and strikeouts (19).

The Gorloks outhit the Bears, 8-2 in the game as eight different players recorded a hit in the win. 

WashU got the scoring started in the bottom of the second on a lead-off homer from Nicole Hay off of Parrish. 

Webster would get that run back in the top of the fifth as freshman catcher Jaelin Holdaway (West Valley, Utah/Cyprus) walked to open the inning and then freshman pinch runner Shelbi Patterson (Sesser, Ill./Christopher) would advance to second on a wild pitch by Denton and then would reach third before scoring a run on an error by WashU catcher Payton Irwin. The Gorloks would then get two more runners on base thanks to back-to-back singles from freshman leftfielder Reese Waggoner (Centennial, Colo./Eaglecrest) and junior pinch hitter Sheyla Iniguez (Riverside, Calif./Bloomington), but those runners would be stranded as Denton forced senior second baseman Kirbie Mendenhall (Robinson, Ill./Parkland College) to fly out to center and then she forced freshman shortstop Sidney Holtz (Taylorsville, Utah/Murray) to hit into a double play to end the inning. 

Hay would record both of WashU's hits as long with her home run, she recorded a one-out single to right in the sixth.

Denton (2-3) took the loss in the circle for the Bears as she pitched two innings and allowed six hits and four runs, while walking one and striking out none. 

The teams left a combined 10 runners on base as Webster stranded six and WashU left four on base, while each team had an error.

Webster will look to carry the momentum gained from Wednesday's win this coming Friday as they travel to Mount Pleasant, Iowa, for a SLIAC doubleheader against Iowa Wesleyan. The doubleheader is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.