SLIAC Game of the Week: Webster at Greenville
Posted: Mar 20, 2018

SLIAC Game of the Week: Webster at Greenville

 

At a Glance

The 2018 SLIAC spring season starts conference play this week and there is no bigger matchup than the softball doubleheader between Greenville University and Webster University. The two teams last met in the 2017 SLIAC Tournament Championship game with Greenville winning their second straight title.

     
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Greenville University 'PANTHERS'

Greenville is just 2-10 this season, dropping nine straight as they enter conference play. The Panthers offense has yet to get clicking, hitting .272 this season and averaging 3.9 runs per game. The Panthers' Cayla Speaks leads the team with a .346 average while Jordyn Wieland leads the team with 13 hits and 12 runs scored. Kate Jolliff Rosado is the big bat in the middle and has driven in 10 runs this spring while Beth Mersinger is hitting .324 with one home run and eight RBI. 

In the circle, the Panthers are trying to find an anchor to replace two-time SLIAC tournament MVP, Brianna Anderson. Greenville has four different pitchers to throw double-digit innings already this year with Speaks leading the way with a 1.31 earned-run average through 16 innings. Becca Oldham and Caitie Opp have been the pitchers to record wins for the team so far this year. 
        

Webster University 'GORLOKS'

Webster has opened up 2018 with a 5-7 record and is coming off a 4-4 road trip in the Diamond 9 Sunkissed Games. The Gorloks are hitting .275 as a team, 4th best in the SLIAC, and averaging 4.8 runs per game. Morgan Mansur (.421) and Katlyn Garza (.417) are leading the way while Tessa Johanning is hitting .375 and is tied with Garza for the team lead with 15 hits. Terri Dearth has driven in nine runs this year while Taylor White provides speed on the basepaths with seven steals. The depth of the Gorloks offense shows with six players driving in at least five runs so far this year.

The trio of Mansur, Chelsea Thornley, and Kaitlyn Johnson will carry the load for the Gorloks this spring. Mansur has worked 38 1/3 innings and holds a 3.10 earned-run average while Thornley carries a 3.23 E.R.A. in 21 2/3 innings of work. Johnson has made two starts and holds a 2.51 E.R.A.
 

Last Time They Met
 Greenville defeated Webster 7-1 in last year's championship game, using a five-run 4th inning to pull away. Greenville held the dangerous Gorlok offense to just four hits while exploding for seven runs in the championship game, matching their output in their previous two tournament games combined.

Game Notes

  • Webster leads the all-time series against Greenville 34-16, although the Panthers have won two straight and took three of four meetings last year.
  • Greenville became the fourth program in SLIAC history to capture back-to-back tournament titles with their wins in 2016 and 2017.
  • Webster defeated #15 ranked WashU earlier this season, splitting the doubleheader with a 5-0 win in game two.
  • The Panthers like to make things happen on the basepaths, leading the conference with 23 stolen bases including league leader Josie Koontz (9).
  • After ranking second to last in home runs in the conference in 2016, the Gorloks found a power burst last year, tying for first with 25 long balls.