EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – The Webster University softball team was back in action this afternoon when they traveled to Edwardsville, Illinois, to take on Illinois College and the University of the Ozarks (Ark.) for a nonconference doubleheader. The Gorloks swept the doubleheader as they defeated Illinois College by a final score of 4-0 and then defeated the University of the Ozarks by a final score of 8-3 to improve to 5-2-1 on the season.

Webster got on the board first in their first game of the day at Paige Thomas hit an RBI double to score Emma Bovaconti and give the Gorloks a 1-0 lead. Webster would add a run in the bottom of the second, and two runs in the bottom of the fifth to take a 4-0 lead in the game. They played great defense throughout the contest and kept Illinois College off the board to solidify their third straight win.

Reese Waggoner (1-1) got the start in this one as she allowed just two hits in 6.0 scoreless innings. Braidyn Burr came in to complete the shutout as she allowed one hit while striking out two in the final 1.0 inning of the game. The shutout marks the Gorloks first of the season.

Webster rallied for 11 hits in their first game of the day. Paige Thomas led the way for Webster at the plate as she went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored. Emma Bovaconti, Lucy St. John, and Alyssa Lyell also recorded multi-hit games as each recorded two hits in the contest. In addition, Lili Work and Madi Stichling each added an RBI for Webster.

Webster got off to another quick start in the second game as Paige Thomas hit another RBI double in the top of the first to give the Gorloks a 1-0 lead. The Gorloks would add to their lead with a three-run rally in the top of the fourth, but a run from the Eagles in the bottom half of the frame cut the Gorloks lead to 4-1 heading into the fifth. Webster would add four runs in the top of the fifth to push their lead to seven, but two runs from the Eagles in the bottom of the sixth would cut the gap to five. Webster would pick up the final three outs of the game and solidify their fourth win of the weekend.

Ainsley Hinz (1-0) was the starting pitcher in this one as she allowed four hits in 4.0 innings. Cheyenne Dickens and Madi Stichling pitched in relief as the two combined to allow four hits and two earned runs while striking out one in the final 3.0 innings of the game.

Webster put together 12 hits in the contest. Katie Croxall led the way for Webster as she went 3-for-4 with one run scored and two RBI. Paige Thomas, Kaelyn Kearney, and Lili Work recorded two-hit games for the Gorloks with Thomas and Kearney picking up one RBI and Work adding two. In addition, Abigail Chandler and Alyssa Lyell each had an RBI.

Webster will be back on the field on Friday, March 8^th when they travel to Tuscon, Arizona, to compete in the Tucson Invitational. The Gorloks will play two games on the day including an 11 a.m. MST matchup against Drew (N.J.) University and a 1:30 p.m. MST matchup against Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (N.Y.).