Gorlok Softball Remains Alive

Webster University kept its 2021 softball season alive here Friday evening as the Gorloks offense erupted for nine runs en route to posting a 9-1 run-ruled win over the University of Wisconsin-Superior in an elimination round game of the NCAA Division III Waverly Regional at Lynes Field on the Wartburg College campus.

With the win, Webster improves to 21-11 overall and advances to another elimination game tomorrow afternoon at 2 p.m., while UW-Superior ends its season with a 22-16 record. 

After being held to five hits and one run in Friday's 5-1 loss to No. 2 seeded and 20th-ranked University of St. Thomas (Minn.) in its tournament opener, Webster scored runs in three of the five innings played, including putting five runs on the board in the bottom of the fifth to collect the run-ruled victory. 

Freshman catcher Paige Thomas (Emporia, Kan./Emporia) and senior first baseman Alyssa McWilliams (Windsor, Colo./CSU-Pueblo) each had two hits, while McWilliams recorded three RBI, which came on a 3-run homer in the bottom of the third inning. The homer was the second of the season for the CSU-Pueblo transfer. 

Webster got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the second as the Gorloks took advantage of an error, a walk, a bunt and an RBI single by fifth-year senior centerfielder Abby Burroughs (Edwardsville, Ill./Triad). 

McWilliams' 3-run homer in the bottom of the third gave the Gorloks a 4-0 lead. The homer came after freshman shortstop Sidney Holtz (Taylorsville, Utah/Murray) and Thomas reached on back-to-back singles before McWilliams' home run. 

The Yellowjackets would break up Webster's bid for a shutout in the top of the fifth on an RBI single by Kaela Kraemer off of senior Morgan Parrish (Lawrenceville, Ill./Parkland College), who started in the circle for the Gorloks. 

Webster ended the game early as they used five hits and an error by the Yellowjackets in the bottom of the fifth with the big hit being an 2-run pinch hit single off the bat of freshman Reese Waggoner (Centennial, Colo./Eaglecrest). The other RBI in the inning was a bases loaded walk issued to freshman designated played Jaelin Holdaway (West Valley, Utah/Cyprus) and RBI singles by junior third baseman Sheyla Iniguez (Riverside, Calif./Bloomington) and freshman second baseman Kaelyn Kearney (Draper, Utah/Corner Canyon).

Parrish (5-4) picked up the win as she tossed 4.2 innings as she allowed four hits and one run, while walking two and striking out three. 

Tayler Kraemer (15-10) took the loss for UW-Superior as she pitched 4-plus innings and allowed 10 hits and nine runs (eight earned), while walking three and striking out one. 

Webster stole three bases in the game and left six runners on base, while UWS stranded five runners on base. 

STORY COURTESY OF WEBSTER UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION