BABSON PARK, Fla. (March 24, 2018) – A pinch-hit grand slam to center field by sophomore Madelyn LoCascio propelled the Webber International University softball team to an 8-4 victory over Southeastern University on Saturday afternoon. It was the third win of the season for the Warriors over the Fire as Webber salvaged the doubleheader after falling 7-0 in game one at Nancy Nichols Field.

In a game that was a back-and-forth battle, it felt like the next run to score could be the game winner, and that is exactly what happened as each time Southeastern scored, Webber had an answer during the next half inning.

After the Fire scored in the top of the sixth inning to tie the game at four runs apiece, LoCascio, who has been used primarily as a pinch hitter with 10 at bats on the season at the time, was called upon from Head Coach Laura Tucker with the bases loaded. The move paid off big time as LoCascio's first career home run could not have come at a better time for the Warriors.

After LoCascio put the Warriors ahead by four, starting pitcher Sabrina Hebding (6-2) finished it off with a 1-2-3 seventh inning while Cassidy Roberts recorded the final out on a great catch in foul territory behind third base. In all, Hebding went the distance for the Warriors, pitching the sixth complete game of her season while allowing four earned runs on 10 hits and four walks.

After being held to one hit in game one and falling behind 2-0 after a half inning in game two, the Warriors decided to show some fight.

Webber's first three runs of game two came on a three-run homer from the red hot bat of Megan Isoba in the first inning scoring Meghan Lindell and Laura Borders to give the Warriors a 3-2 lead. It was Isoba's third home run in a week after hitting two last Saturday.

Then, in the fifth inning, the Warriors added another run to answer a Southeastern run that tied the game at 3-3 as a sacrifice fly by Lindell scored Alyssa Rodriguez to make it 4-3. Rodriguez started the inning with a one-out double to right field and was moved to third on a single through the left side by Borders.

En route to earning the victory, Hebding did a great job of pitching out of jams all game, leaving seven Fire runners on base through four innings, stranding two more runners in the fifth inning and then leaving two runners in scoring position in the sixth. In all, Southeastern left 11 runners on base in the first six innings.

Eight Warriors had a hit in game two with Rodriguez leading the way with a 2-for-3 effort.

In game one, Webber was shut down by the Southeastern pitching staff, which allowed only one hit, and struck out nine Warrior batters. 

Coach Tucker had this to say after the games. "I'm really proud of how we bounced back and hit the ball well in the second game. Our pitchers fought through adversity all day and found a way to get the job done. During the second game, our team played for each other and kept fighting to get the win. I'm proud of how we never gave up in the last game, and it feels great to get a big conference win."

Webber moves to 13-8 overall and 5-3 in The Sun Conference as Southeastern, the preseason conference favorite, is now 25-12 overall and 4-4 in the TSC. The Warriors currently sit alone in second place in the TSC standings.

The Warriors will be back on Nancy Nichols Field on Monday, March 24, for a Sun Conference doubleheader against their Crooked Lake rival No. 24 Warner University starting at 2 p.m. in Babson Park, Florida. It will be the fourth series against a nationally ranked opponent out of the first five series in conference play for Webber as the Warriors have benefited so far by playing very tough teams to start the conference slate.