Blackburn Defeats Webster in SLIAC Quarterfinals

Chesterfield, MO -- Blackburn College Softball took on Webster University in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tournament Quarterfinals and pulled up the upset as they defeated the #3 seed Gorloks 5-0. 

Senior Kailynn Kruep posted a team-best three hits and scored three runs. Senior Zoe Mitchell and junior Kenadee Frey both had two hits. Mitchell also had three runs batted in while Frey added two. Senior Shelby Koenig threw seven strikouts in the complete game win, allowing just three hits in the effort. 

The Beavers took a 2-0 lead in the third inning. Senior Sierra Hiser singled up the middle to begin the inning and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from Kruep. After a groundout advanced the pair up a base, Mitchell singled up the middle and scored both Hiser and Kruep. 

In the fifth inning, Kruep scored again as she opened the inning with a single to centerfield then used a single from Mitchell to move to second. She scored on Frey's single up the middle and put BC ahead 3-0. 

Blackburn added insurance in the top of the seventh. Kruep started the inning reaching first on an error then Gibson singled to left field to move Kruep to third. Freshman Elexus Frey pinch ran for Gibson and moved to third on a ball hit by Mitchell, with Kruep scoring on the play. E. Frey then scored on a sacrifice fly from K. Frey to put BC ahead 5-0. 

Webster was unable to score in the bottom of the inning to give BC the upset victory. 

With the win, the Beavers will advance to the double-elimination semifinals where they will take on Greenville College in their first game Thursday in Louisville, Kentucky.