BABSON PARK, Fla. (March 10, 2023) - The Webber International University softball team played host to Calumet College of St. Joseph in a doubleheader on Thursday afternoon. Both games were tight as the Warriors narrowly dropped game one, 9-7, and earned the 4-3 victory in game two.

The Warriors (6-10 overall) went with junior-pitcher Jenna Chaudoin who tossed the complete seven innings but unfortunately allowed nine runs, only one of which was earned, on seven hits and added five strikeouts as well.

Webber earned an early lead thanks to a single up the middle from Hayley Saylor which brought home Kimmie Cheung for the first run of the game in the bottom of the first. The Warriors extended their lead the following inning after an RBI-sacrifice bunt from Gracie Lopez followed by a single by Cheung which scored Chaudoin, making it 3-0. The Crimson Wave (6-12) scored a couple of runs in the third inning to reduce the deficit to just one. In the fifth inning, however, Johnkira Bland restored the three-run lead with a two-run home run.

The sixth inning is when CCSJ broke the game open, assisted by a plethora of errors, scoring seven runs to take a 9-5 lead. The Warriors tried to regain the lead in the seventh inning but were unable to get the four runs needed.

Chaudoin went 3-for-4 with a run scored while Bland finished 2-for-4 with a home run, two RBI's and two runs scored. Gracie Lopez tied with Bland for most RBI's with two as well. Both Maddie Houtz and Cheung were 2-for-4 with a run scored with Cheung adding an RBI as well.

Victoria Nearing got the start in game number two as she threw a complete game as well, earning the first win of her collegiate career. She gave up three runs on eight hits and picked up two strikeouts.

It was the Crimson Wave that took the early lead this time around, scoring three runs in the top of the first inning. Webber responded the next half inning with a run thanks to an RBI-groundout from Bland. The Warriors added a run in each of the third and fourth innings to tie the game up at 3-3. In the bottom of the sixth inning, Saylor delivered a single up the middle to score Lopez and earn the victory for the Warriors.

Bland led the team in hits and RBI's after going 2-for-3 with two RBI's. Webber had strong contributions from its outfielders as Cheung ended 1-for-3 with a run scored and Saylor finished 1-for-3 with an RBI.

Next up, the Warriors head to Lakeland, Florida to take on No. 16 Southeastern University for their first Sun Conference series of the season. It will be a three-game series which will begin on Friday, March 10th at 3 p.m. with a doubleheader the following day at 1 and 3 p.m.