CLERMONT, Fla. (May 2, 2019) – The fourth-seeded Webber International University softball team got off to a great start at the 2019 Sun Conference Softball Championship Tournament, defeating fifth-seeded Keiser University 6-5 with a walk off hit by Victoria Atkinson in the first game of the day before coming back to take down the College of Coastal Georgia, the No. 1 seed in the tournament, 3-0 behind a complete game shutout by Emma Maitland to move into the TSC semifinals at PFX Athletics Legends Way Ballfields.

It was the opening day of the double-elimination tournament as Webber (27-17) got things started off in grand fashion in game one against Keiser, coming from behind 4-0 to tie it with a four run-bottom of the third inning before having to rally again with two runs in the bottom of the seventh to win it.

After Ka'Deisha McCowen led off the seventh with a double just fair down the right field line, she took third on a passed ball and just beat the tag to move the tying run to third base. From there, an infield single on a check swing with two strikes by CC Smith two batters later scored McCowen, and then, Webber proceeded to load the bases two batters later as Mary-Margaret Maggard, who was just named to the All-Sun Conference First-Team, was intentionally walked.

That brought up Atkinson, another First-Team All-Sun Conference selection for the Warriors, who on a 2-2 count, drilled a ball deep into the left center gap to walk things off and keep Webber in the winners' bracket.

Atkinson finished game one 3-for-4 with a double and three RBI's while Samantha Rolfe was 2-for-2.

Webber's third first-team all-conference pick, Maitland (11-5), earned the game one win after entering in the second inning. In all, Maitland finished with six innings pitched and struck out six while allowing five hits, three runs and three walks.

In game two against top-seeded Coastal Georgia, it was all Maitland (12-5) as she pitched her 10th complete game and third shutout performance of the year, holding the Mariners to seven hits and one walk.

After an RBI-single by Daisy Riggleman scored Maggard as an unearned run to put the Warriors up 1-0 in the third inning, it was Atkinson who again came up huge in the seventh inning as she laced a two-run double to center to give Maitland and the Webber defense some breathing room in the final half inning.

Atkinson finished game two 2-for-4 with two RBI's, and was a combined 5-for-8 with five RBI's in all during day one of the conference tournament. Additionally, Smith finished with two hits, two runs and an RBI on the day; Maggard had two hits, two runs, three walks and an RBI; and Cassidy Roberts had two hits, two runs and a walk.

"I am so proud of how we came out today with two big wins against two great opponents," spoke Head Coach Kristy Burton. "Victoria Atkinson came up big in both games for us today. Our whole team just wanted it , and the vibe was great. We had a lot of fun and most importantly, we came to play ball. Coach Kendall Core and I are honestly just proud and look forward to seeing us continue to play with passion the rest of the tournament."

The Warriors will now play at 2 p.m. on Friday, May 3, in the TSC Semifinals against the No. 2 seed and No. 20-nationally ranked, the University of South Carolina Beaufort. A win over the Sand Sharks and Webber would advance to the TSC Championship game at 12 p.m. on Saturday, May 4, while a loss would mean the Warriors need to play again on Friday at 7 p.m. to keep their season alive.