(Chandler, Ariz.) – The Webster Gorloks had a 6-3 lead heading into the bottom of the seventh inning but let it slip away in a 7-6 loss to Wheaton (Mass.) on Tuesday at the Greater Phoenix Invitational in Chandler, Ariz.

    The Gorloks (0-4) jumped on top in the first inning with a triple from Alex Raetzloff and single from Dave Umfleet to take a 1-0 lead. After an Umfleet stolen base, he moved over to third on a groundout to second then scored on pop fly to the second baseman to make it 2-0. The Lyons (2-3) answered right back with a pair of runs of their own in the bottom of the inning to tie the game up and would take the lead with a single run in the bottom of the second. After a scoreless third WU tied it in the fourth on an RBI groundout from Raetzloff which scored Dave Bushor and had a chance to take the lead but Umfleet’s sinking line drive was caught by the left fielder to end the inning. Webster regained the lead in the fifth on a sacrifice fly from John Combs scoring Greg Steen from third.

    After working out of a jam in the home half of the fifth the Gorloks added two more runs in the sixth inning on a single by Raetzloff and a double play ball by Umfleet. Wheaton began its comeback in the bottom of the seventh with three straights hits to get within 6-4 and then tied the game on an error by the shortstop. Webster had a chance to retake the lead in the eighth but couldn’t get the runner past second base and then had to work out of situation with runners at first and second with two outs in the bottom of the inning to keep the game tied. WC won the game in the bottom of the ninth on a leadoff walk, a wild pitch and a high chopper to third that just got over the head of Steen and down the left field line to win the game.

    Brett Mueller went the first seven innings for WU allowing six runs, three earned, on eight hits with eight strikeouts and only one walk. Greg Bade took the loss for Webster allowing the walk and single in the ninth to fall to 0-1.

    The Gorloks pounded out 12 hits in the game with five players having two hits apiece. Raetzloff had two RBIs in the loss.

    WU returns to action tomorrow with two games against Calvin College (Mich.) at 12:30 p.m. (CST) and against Monmouth College (Ill.) at 4 p.m. (CST) in Chandler, Ariz.