BABSON PARK, Fla. (February 13, 2018) – The Webber International University softball team started off its 2018 season with a bang, winning both games in the doubleheader against Stratford University. The Warriors earned a shutout victory in both games, taking the first by a score of 2-0 and the second 4-0 on Tuesday on Nancy Nichols Field.

In addition to being the first two wins of 2018 for Webber, the two wins also represented the first two of new Head Coach Laura Tucker's career as a Warrior.

Game one of the doubleheader was a pitcher's duel as the two teams combined to allow only five hits. Sophomore Raven White led the Warriors to the win, pitching a seven-inning shutout. White allowed only three hits and two walks, and had three strikeouts, including a crucial strikeout in the fourth inning with one out and bases loaded that helped the Warriors get out of the inning without allowing the Cardinals to take the lead.

When asking White about her performance, she said, "It feels great to be back after having back surgery in June. I am happy to be back playing with my teammates and to get the win."

Tuesday's first game was White's first shutout of the season and second of her career as a sophomore.

Webber provided enough scoring to back White's great pitching performance as the Warriors responded to the Cardinals threat in the top half of the fourth by putting up two runs on a home run to right center field by senior Laura Borders in the bottom half. It was Borders' 16th home run of her career after hitting nine as a sophomore and five as a junior.

Borders' bomb was set up by a single to left by fellow-senior Meghan Lindell earlier in the inning, the only two hits in the game for Webber.

Borders said after the game, "I was nervous and excited to be out there playing my last first game of the season. I was just looking for a base hit and was given a good pitch to drive and I hit it hard."

Game two followed a similar script to game one as sophomore Sabrina Hebding matched White with a three-hitter. Like White, Hebding also finished all seven innings, but allowed only one walk with two strikeouts.

"It feel's great to get the win," said Hebding. "It was my first complete game pitching in college. I couldn't be happier to share the day and to pitch so well with Raven [White]. I love my team, and they gave me great confidence today knowing that they had my back if I made a mistake."

One of those teammates was Alyssa Rodriguez, who played strong defense all day and had the go-ahead run batted in on a double to the left center field gap in the bottom of the second inning to score Megan Isoba.

Rodriguez said, "It was awesome to turn to the dugout and see my team cheering after my double. It feels great to contribute and help the team any way that I can."

Webber added three more runs in the third inning as a double to left field by Isoba brought in Marisha Bullard and Victoria Atkinson, and then a hit by pitch by Cassidy Roberts with the bases loaded scored Lindell.

"I was very proud of the way our team played today," said Tucker. "Our Pitchers threw outstanding and we got key hits with runners in scoring position. Our defense was strong and we found a way to get two wins. I'm looking forward to seeing what this group can do this season. It was great to start off the season with two wins."

Isoba finished game two 2-for-3 while Borders was the other Warrior with two hits on the day.

The Warriors' softball team will be looking to keep their momentum rolling as they head to Plant City, Florida, to play Olivet Nazarene University (Ill.) on Saturday, February, 17, at 10 a.m. at Randy Larson Softball Complex.