SAUGET, IL - Sophomore
Craig Schaefer hit two of Webster's four home runs as the Gorloks opened St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference action with a 8-4 victory over Westminster Friday at GCS Ballpark. The two teams with meet in a SLIAC doubleheader 2 p.m. Saturday in Fulton, MO.
Schaefer's first homer gave Webster the 5-3 lead after Westminster scoreed three runs in the top of the first inning. He added a solo shot in fifth inning capped the scoring. Schaefer finished 2-for-4 with two homeruns and three RBI.
Seven of Webster's eight runs came via the long ball. Freshman
Joe Biagini's RBI single in the fourth inning provided the only run not scored on a home run.
Two Webster home runs came immediately following walks. Senior
Kyle Starnes hits a titanic shot to left following a walk to
Andrew Fuiten in the second. A walk to sophomore
Paul Kienker in fourth inning was followed by junior
Zach Little's first homer of the season.
Senior starter
Eric Broughton (2-2) settled down after the third batter of the game, a three-run home run. He surrendered just four more hits over seven full innings with seven strikeouts.
NOTES
- The four home runs were a season-high for the Gorloks.
- Senior John Combs was injured in the second inning on a batter's interference play. The extent of the injury will not be known until Saturday.
- Webster has won five straight and 14 of the last 15 against Westminster. The Blue Jays, however, lead the overall series, 28-16.
- The win snapped a two-game losing streak for the Gorloks.
QUOTES
Head Coach Bill Kurich
Initial thoughts
"It was a good start (to the conference season) against a good team. It was a good job fighting back after a tough inning ... It was a goofy inning. It started with a swinging bunt single, then we dropped a pitch out when we knew he was going to steal. Then, they get a three-run home run. That is the story of our season."
On Combs' injury
"We won't know (the extent) until he is evaluated in the morning. He is our captain, leader and has caught pretty much every game the last two years. It's a loss that is tough to overcome, very difficult. He is our emotional leader."
On Eric Broughton
"Eric has thrown the ball well every time out. We got the ball up on the home run. After that he kept the ball down and the doubles were now groundballs. When he keeps the ball down in the zone, he is very tough to beat."
