LAKE WALES, Fla. (April 17, 2019) – The nationally-recognized Webber International University softball team split its doubleheader against Crooked Lake rival Warner University, dropping game one 5-1 before bouncing back in game two behind a complete game shutout from Emma Maitland to win it 4-0.

Webber (22-16 overall, 11-9 The Sun Conference) earned the season-series victory over Warner (25-11, 11-9) 3-1 with its third shutout over the rival Royals this season. Webber was victorious at home over Warner 4-0 and 1-0 back on March 14.

In game two on Saturday, Maitland blanked the Royals to salvage the doubleheader and draw the Warriors into a three-way tie for third place in The Sun Conference standings.

Maitland finished with her second complete game shutout of the year while allowing just two hits, two walks and striking out six Royals.

Starting with two runners on in the second inning, Maitland proceeded to retire 15 batters in a row until a leadoff double in the bottom of the seventh. From there, Maitland recorded back-to-back swinging strikeouts before ultimately leaving the bases loaded. In all, Maitland finished with five 1-2-3 innings in the game.

After a game one where the Warriors had four errors and did very little offensively, the script flipped in game two as Webber capitalized on Warner's six errors.

The Warriors scored their first run of game two in the second inning as Alyssa Rodriguez brought in Daisy Riggleman, and then Riggleman would also come around to score in the fourth inning thanks to two Royal errors to make it 2-0.

In the fifth inning, Mary-Margaret Maggard was driven home by a Victoria Atkinson gap-shot double to right center field, and then Atkinson scored on a single by Kaitlin Cockcroft to make it 4-0.

"Rivarly games are always the best games of the year," spoke Head Coach Kristy Burton. "We struggled to get our bats alive in the first game, but found a way to hit as a team and push some runs across in the second game. Our pitching staff and defense continues to give us a chance in every game. Emma [Maitland] did absolutely outstanding tonight. Her presence and persistence kept up motivated. We were more than excited to see our team step up in the second game, taking three out of the four from a great Warner program. We are looking forward to enjoying Easter with our families and getting back after it next week."

Facing a 1-0 deficit in the fifth inning of game one, Webber gave up four runs in the bottom of the fifth after committing two errors and a wild pitch.

Two of Webber's three hits in game one came in the sixth inning as Maggard led off with a single and was followed by a double of Atkinson, her first of three doubles on the day. Maggard then scored on a fielder's choice by Cockcroft for the first of her two RBI's on the day.

The Warriors will get the weekend off and prepare to host the University of South Carolina Beaufort for a doubleheader starting at 12 p.m. on Wednesday, April 24.