CARLINVILLE, IL – Blackburn College Softball honored their four seniors while the team hosted Webster University in their final St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference doubleheader before the SLIAC Tournament. 

After dropping the opener 1-0, the Beavers honored Natalie Keith, Lexi Shaw, Taylor Girth and Holly Heuerman. 

Sophomore Zoe Mitchell led the team's offense with four hits. Freshman Kenadee Frey added three hits with two doubles. Mckenzie Smith posted two hits and led the team with three runs batted in. 

Girth pitched the opener and allowed just one run in seven innings. 

Webster scored a run in the first inning of the opener which proved to be the difference in a tight game to win 1-0. The nightcap saw Blackburn get out to a lead in the first inning. Frey hit a double to get the inning started and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt from freshman Kailynn Kruep. Heuerman then grounded out but it was enough to allow Frey to score and put Blackburn ahead 1-0. 

The Beavers loaded the bases in the fourth inning. Mitchell singled to get on base followed by a walk from junior Julianna Tabian. Junior Grace Mackey loaded the bases after getting hit by a pitch. During the next at bat, Smith singled which allowed Mitchell to put Blackburn ahead 2-0 with a run. 

In the fifth inning, Webster answered with a run but Blackburn responded with two in their sixth. Tabian and Mackey both singled to get on before a Smith double scored both and put BC ahead 4-1 heading into the seventh inning. 

Unfortunately the Gorloks managed to score five runs in the top of the seventh which was too much to overcome as Webster took the 6-4 win. 

Blackburn falls to 17-21 on the season and 6-10 in the SLIAC while Webster improved to 24-12, 11-5 in league play. The Beavers will now enter postseason play Tuesday where they will travel to Webster for the SLIAC Quarterfinals. The game is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m.