(Chandler, Ariz.) – The Webster Gorloks baseball squad opened its 2008 season with a 12-4 loss to the Concordia-Chicago Cougars on Saturday morning at the Greater Phoenix Invitational in Chandler, Ariz.

    The Gorloks (0-1) fell behind 1-0 in the opening frame after two were down on back-to-back doubles by the Cougars (7-1) three and four hitters. WU avoided further damage with an inning ending strikeout and runners on the corner. CUC added two more in the second stretching the lead to 3-0. Webster got its first run of the season in the fourth courtesy of a hit batsman, a stolen base and a RBI single from Andrew Fuiten. Concordia answered right back with three in the fifth and then blew it open with a six run sixth inning making it 12-2. The Gorloks added two in the bottom of the eighth and had an opportunity for more but a double play ball ended the threat.

    John Combs led the way offensively for Webster with two of the team’s four hits. Alex Raetzloff, Nathan Shelton and Fuiten each drove in a run. Eric McKinley went the first five innings allowing six runs on nine hits while striking out six Cougars with two free passes to take the loss.

    WU returns to action tomorrow with a pair of games against Presentation College (S.D.) beginning at 12 p.m. (CST) followed by a match-up with the 12th ranked College of New Jersey Lyons at 3:30 p.m. (CST) in Scottsdale, Ariz.