CLEARWATER, Fla. (May 8, 2022) - The Webber International University softball team traveled to Clearwater, Florida this past weekend to compete in the 2022 Sun Conference Softball Tournament. The Warriors went undefeated in the tournament and defeated No. 11 Southeastern University, 3-1, in the tournament final to earn their first Sun Conference Tournament Championship since 2016, and third in program history.

The Warriors (39-21 overall) opened tournament play with a game against their Crooked Lake rivals, Warner University, defeating them 2-1 before having to play a rematch of last year's tournament final against No. 16 Coastal Georgia. A bases-loaded three-RBI double by Maddie Houtz in the fifth inning and an RBI-single from Mary-Margaret Maggard in the seventh would be enough to see them past the Mariners. Webber would then face Thomas University who had just upset No. 11 Southeastern the game before. Tied at one after seven innings, the two teams would be forced into extras until in the top of the 10th inning, the Warriors would explode with an eight-run inning that would down the Night Hawks, 9-1.

Heading into the championship game against No. 11 Southeastern, Webber would have the advantage of being undefeated thus far, meaning the Fire would have to defeat them twice to win the tournament. The Warriors would start the Sun Conference Pitcher of the Year, Kayla Swinson, on the mound. She would throw three innings, allowing one run on four hits and picking up a strikeout before being relieved by Morgan Mills who would pitch a scoreless remaining four innings while tallying three strikeouts.

The Fire would strike first after an RBI-single in the top of the second would earn them a 1-0 lead. However, the Warriors would respond in the bottom of the third after a single from Abigail Thompson would score Alycia Celia to level the game. An inning later, the Warriors would start the inning with a leadoff single from Maddie Houtz. Taylor Bias would enter the game to pinch run and after a Savanah Jacobs sacrifice bunt, Webber would have a runner on second with one out. Genesis Aviles would then fire a ball down the right field line, bringing home Bias for an RBI-triple. With the next at-bat, Brandy Barquin would hit a ground ball to the shortstop and the Fire would attempt a play at the plate but Aviles would be safe and the Warriors would take a two-run lead at 3-1.

Mills would hold the fire scoreless for the fifth and sixth innings. In the top of the seventh inning, the Warriors would get two quick ground outs to first base and be one out away from earning the title. Then, after a single to left field, a walk, and a single to right field, Southeastern would have the bases loaded with two outs and the winning run on first base. However, Mills would force a ground ball to the shortstop that would be pitched over to second for the force out and the Warriors would seal their third Sun Conference Championship in program history.

Offensively, the Warriors were led by Aviles, finishing 1-for-3 with a triple, an RBI, and a run scored followed by Thompson who ended 1-for-2 with an RBI. Maggard, Houtz, and Witney Bones had the other three hits in the game for Webber.

Five Warriors would be named to the 2022 All-Tournament Team including Kelsea Friend, Mary-Margaret Maggard, Kayla Swinson, Morgan Mills, and Genesis Aviles, who was also named the Tournament MVP.