CLERMONT, Fla. (May 8, 2021) – The No. 1-seeded Webber International University softball team came up short by a final score of 3-2 against the College of Coastal Georgia in the championship game of the 2021 Sun Conference Softball Tournament at PFX Athletics Legends Way Ballfields.

Webber led 1-0 in the top of the third inning after Kelsea Friend hit a one-out double to shallow left center, advanced to third base on a sacrifice bunt by Kaitlin Cockcroft and then stole home to score the first run of the game in exciting fashion.

The Warriors then took a 2-0 lead in the top of the fourth inning when Abigail Thompson hit a leadoff home run over the fence in left field.

Webber's starting pitcher, Emma Maitland (13-10), held Coastal Georgia to two hits and had four strikeouts through the first four innings before the Mariners loaded the bases with two outs in the bottom of the fifth. Coastal Georgia proceeded to get a two-run single to left center field to tie the game, followed by another RBI-hit also to left center to take the lead.

Dariyen Moss then entered the game and did not allow another run to cross the rest of the way. Moss finished the season with 13 consecutive scoreless innings pitched.

Maitland finished with a line of 4.2 innings pitched allowing six hits, three runs, one walk and four strikeouts.

After Thompson's home run in the fourth inning, Webber went hitless the rest of the way as Coastal Georgia's starting pitcher, Hayley Dickerson (15-3), pitched all seven innings and kept Webber to three hits, two runs, two walks and six strikeouts.

Head Coach Kristy Burton said, "The scoreboard today didn't name us conference champs, but I can tell you I have never been a part of a team more deserving of the title champion. These girls all season long fought every fight together. We became a family working through the good and bad times. To our seniors, thank you for raising the bar. We have the best dugout and fans in the nation, and every time we get an opportunity to play the amazing game of softball, you can feel the passion and energy throughout the entire game. We were a Warrior nation and this team got us to that point. As a coaching staff, we couldn't be more proud of this team. Our motto is 'passion for purpose', and no one can take the passion out of this team. Thank you for all the support, and we hope to continue representing our university the right way. Go Warriors."

Making the all-tournament team for the Warriors was Abigail Thompson, Emma Maitland and Mary-Margaret Maggard. Thompson hit .455 with four runs scored, three runs batted in, two home runs and a triple, and had a 1.182 slugging percentage. Maggard hit .400 with a double and a triple, scored twice, stole two bases, walked four times and had a team-high .571 on base percentage. Maitland was 2-1 with two complete games, one shutout, a 2.89 earned run average in 18.2 innings pitched, and had only three walks to go along with 16 strikeouts.

With a current record of 30-24, Webber will now have to wait and see if it is selected to compete in the NAIA National Championship Opening Round for the first time since 2016.