Blackburn Softball splits doubleheader with conference foe Webster

The Blackburn Softball Team splits doubleheader with home Webster Gorloks, by the scores 1-0 Webster and 4-3 Blackburn on March 27^th, 2019. Games were played at Webster University in Webster Groves, MO.

The first game showed little to no offense as both teams combined for nine hits and only one run. In the second inning the Beavers had an opportunity to score, as Tessa Beckham (Litchfield, Illinois / Litchfield) singles to center field to move Brooke Daniels (Lapel, Indiana / Lapel) to third. With only one out and two runners on base the Beavers could not muster out a run.  Through three innings Beckham had four strikeouts and only allowed two hits.  To leadoff the fourth inning Daniels stroke a double to centerfield, her second hit of the game and the Beavers were in business. Though after an out the Gorloks turned a double play to ruin Blackburn's plans of scoring.  In the bottom of the fourth Webster took the lead as a throwing error with two outs allowed a run to score. The score was 1-0 after the four innings. In the sixth inning Haley Shull (Taylorville, Illinois / Taylorville) doubles to left center and the Beavers were in business once again with only one out. With two outs Shull advances to third on a wild pitch. Daniels was up for the third time with an opportunity to tie the game, though she grounded out 2^nd base.  Through six Beckham was dealing with ten strikeouts and no earned runs. With the Beavers only down by one run entering the seventh inning they had one last chance to extend the game. To start the 7^th Senior Halle Fransen (Pearl City, Illinois / Pearl City) singles up the middle. Nothing went the Beavers way they hit into their second double play of the game. Daniels lead the Beavers with two hits. Beckham pitched a complete game recording ten strikeouts, allowing four hits, and one walk.  The winning pitcher Arianna Arias also had a complete game allowing five hits, three strikeouts, and only one walk.

The second game was much more entertaining as both teams combined for a total of seven runs. Webster took an early advantage with a two-run single by Brienna Sheperd in the first inning. Webster has four hits and two runs after an inning. In the second inning Blackburn had two runners in scoring position with one out and were unable to get any runs across. The Gorloks added to their lead with an unearned run to take an early 3-0 lead. The Beavers bats became alive in the fourth and took a 4-3 lead. Beckham walked to leadoff. Briahna Whelan (Prairie du Rocher, Illinois / Red Bud) entered the game to pitch run. Lexi Yockey (Pleasant Plains, Illinois / Pleasant Plains) singled down the LF line and advanced Whelan to second. With one out Kennedy Henson (Centralia, Illinois / Centralia) layed down a bunt, single to load the bases. Bailey Hughes (Carlinville, Illinois / Carlinville) reached on an error by the CF and drove in one run to cut the deficit 4-1. Shull stayed hot with a triple to clear the bases and gave Blackburn a 4-3 lead. The scoring was done after the fourth as both teams combined for a total of two hits in the last three innings. Shull lead the Beavers with two hits and two RBI's. Hughes pitched a complete game allowing seven hits, four strikeouts, and two earned runs. The losing pitcher for the Gorloks, Kaitlyn Johnson pitched three innings and a third. She allowed five hits and three earned runs. Breelyn Craig pitched three innings and two thirds in relief and allowed no runs and had three strikeouts.

The second game was the first conference win for the Beavers of the season. The Beavers are 4-12 (SLIAC 1-5). The Gorloks are 4-14 (SLIAC 1-3).

UP NEXT: Blackburn will travel to Galesburg, IL to take on Knox College Saturday, March 30^th. First pitch noon.