The Journal

Gorloks upset No. 4 Washington University

Late home runs by Washam and Vahey help Gorloks gain a doubleheader split over nationally ranked Bears

By: Jonathan Webb

Issue date: 4/9/09 Section: Sports

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Media Credit: David Kovalluk

Junior center fielder Cassie Mosier takes a look to the plate after pulling back from an attempted drag bunt against Maryville University on March 17. Mosier has been instrumental in setting the table for the middle of the Gorloks' order this season. The left-handed swinger is batting .267, hitting primarily out of the two-hole in the WU lineup. Mosier has also stolen five bases in six attempts. The Gorloks are approaching the home stretch of their conference schedule, as they will face only SLIAC foes for the rest of the season, save for an April 15 doubleheader against Millikin University.

Before the season's first
game, first-year Webster University
softball coach Chris
Eaton expected his team to find
themselves at the top of the St.
Louis Intercollegiate Athletic
Conference standings.
But even WU's most optimistic
fans may have been impressed
with the Gorloks' performances
of the past week.
WU began the week by splitting
a doubleheader against
Washington University, winning
the nightcap 6-2 after
dropping the opener, 4-1.
The Bears entered the
game as the fourth-ranked
NCAA Division-III team
in the nation. However,
that ranking meant little to
the upset-minded Gorloks.
"It's just a number," senior
catcher Dana Vahey said, disputing
any preconceived concerns
related to Wash U's national
ranking. "Any team, any day."
Senior first baseman Mandy
VanVelkinburgh, who has frequently
batted directly behind
Vahey in the WU lineup, was encouraged
by the upset win, but
was not surprised by the result.
"We play a sport built
around failure - a sport where
on any given day, anybody can
beat anybody," VanVelkinburgh
said. "The win against
Wash U is proof of this. When

Continued...

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