(Chandler, Ariz.) – The Webster Gorloks dropped its sixth straight to start the season 18-5 to Calvin (Mich.) College and 11-8 to Monmouth College on Wednesday at the Greater Phoenix Invitational in Chandler, Ariz.

    The Gorloks (0-6) jumped on top for the second straight game scoring a run in the first inning when Alex Raetzloff led off with a double to left field, moved to third on a groundout to second and scored on a wild pitch. The Knights (6-0) answered back with five runs of their own in the bottom of the inning with the big hit being a two run single off the bat of Jason May. Webster got its second run in the third inning when Raetzloff doubled again this time to right field and scored on David Umfleet’s single back up the middle to cut the deficit to 5-2. Calvin stormed right back though with seven runs in the bottom of the inning then added three in the fourth and two in the fifth to extend its lead to 17-3. WU would add a single run in the fifth on another RBI single off the bat of Umfleet this time plating Dakota Huey and two more in the seventh when Raetzloff drove in Wes Hilliard with his third double of the game and then he scored on Umfleet’s single through the right side for the final margin.

    Eric Broughton allowed eight runs, all earned, on six hits with two strikeouts and no walks in 2.1 innings of work to fall to 0-1. Raetzloff and Umfleet each had three hits while Hilliard chipped in with two.

    In the second game against Monmouth (1-5) the Gorloks trailed 9-0 after the top of the fifth and started chipping away at the lead with two in the bottom of the inning. The Fighting Scots added another run in the sixth but Webster came back with three in the bottom of the inning highlighted by a two run triple over the right fielder’s head off the bat of John Combs. MC got another run back in the top of the seventh making it 11-5 however WU continued to fight scoring two more runs in the seventh and one in the eighth to get within three and had a chance to get even closer with the tying run at the plate in the eighth but Andrew Fuiten fouled out to the left fielder ending the threat. The Gorloks got their lead-off man on in the ninth but was erased on a double play ball to third and a swinging strikeout ended the game.

    James Powell got the start for Webster but lasted just 3.1 allowing four runs, two earned, on seven hits with five walks and four strikeouts. WU’s pitching staff combined to walk nine hitters and had two hit batsman in the contest.

    Umfleet, Huey and Combs combined for six of the team’s eight hits in the loss. Huey and Combs each had two RBIs as well.

    Webster concludes its Arizona trip with a single game against Simpson College (Iowa) on Thursday morning at 11 a.m. (CST) in Chandler, Ariz.