It was often a case of feast or famine for the Webster University Women’s softball team over spring break.
The team went 4-4 on their trip to Florida and are 4-6 overall according to a Webster Athletics article.
The offense was often the driving force behind their successes on the trip. The team chalked up run totals of 9, 14 and 16 in their wins over University of Northwestern (Roseville, Minnesota), Marywood University (Scranton, Pennsylvania) and Becker College (Worcester, Massachusetts), respectively. However, they were on the wrong side of 12-1 and 13-2 losses to Ohio Northern University (Ada, Ohio) and St. Mary’s University (St. Mary’s City, Maryland).
The team had been unable to practice outside due to the weather before the trip to Florida.
“Our offense did really well down there. That was a pleasant surprise,” Head Coach Chris Eaton said. However, he acknowledged, “There are still some things we need to work on.”
A pair of sophomores contributed to the offensive explosion in the form of leadoff hitter and pitcher Rachel Franck and outfielder Erin McGinnis.
Franck went 2-1 on the Florida trip, has a 1.75 earned run average (ERA) and a team-high 14 strikeouts. She hurled a complete game, allowing only one run in Webster’s win over Lake Forest, Ill. She is batting .429 and is tied for the team-lead in steals (6) with McGinnis.
“Rachel (Franck) has been really great for us. She was key for us last year and this year too,” Eaton said.
McGinnis is hitting .433 while knocking in 7 RBI and ranks in the top five of nearly every Gorlok offensive category.
“Erin has really stepped up,” Eaton said. “She’s having a real good start. She showed potential as a freshman, but had a couple of injuries. Hopefully she can keep it on track this year. ”
The team returns to St. Louis and begins St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play on March 22 away to Eureka College.
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