BABSON PARK, Fla. (February 16, 2023) - The new-look Webber International University softball team matched up against the Truett McConnell University Bears in a doubleheader on Thursday afternoon to open the 2023 season. Unfortunately, the Warriors were defeated 5-0 in game one and 2-1 in game two.

Junior Jenna Chaudoin was the starting pitcher for the Warriors (0-2 overall) in game one as she allowed five runs on eight hits in 4.1 innings pitched. It mattered little, however, as Webber was held to just three hits in total thanks to the Bears' (2-2) ace.

Truett McConnell scored the first run of the game in the second inning on an RBI-single before busting the game open with four more runs in the top of the fifth. The Warriors three hits came via Brandy Barquin, Genesis Aviles, and Johnkira Bland, all of which were singles. Chloe Rayner and Anastasia Suhetskis both earned their collegiate debuts in the pitchers' circle as Rayner allowed no runs and no hits in 1.2 innings while Suhetskis tallied two strikeouts in one inning.

There was yet another collegiate debut for freshman pitcher in Victoria Nearing as she got the nod on the rubber and threw all seven innings, allowing two runs on just one hit and tallying two strikeouts.

The Bears scored early on a sacrifice fly in the first inning and doubled their lead the very next inning after a runner scored on a pass ball. Webber responded the next half-inning courtesy of a triple down the right-field line by Gracie Lopez, scoring Kimmie Cheung. The remainder of the game was scoreless as both pitchers settled into a groove.

Lopez finished 1-of-3 with a triple and an RBI followed by Nearing who finished 1-of-3 and Bland who was 1-of-2. Nicole Gutierrez came in as a pinch hitter and delivered a double down the left-field line.

The schedule only gets tougher for the Warriors as they face two top-25 opponents next week. First they match up against No. 2 University of Mobile in a doubleheader on Wednesday, February 22nd at 1 and 3 p.m. before facing No. 11 Grand View University twice on Saturday, February 26th.