FULTON, MO - Down to their final out, freshman
Joe Biagini picked the perfect time for his first hit of the game. He muscled a two-out single to center giving Webster its first lead of the game en route to the 11-9 victory over Westminster in the second game of the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference doubleheader Saturday at Saucier Field. Webster scored two runs in the top of the first inning en route to the 8-1 victory in the opener of the twinbill.
Biagini's single came immediately following an error that would have ended the game. The victory was the second comeback win as Webster sweeps the three-game series from the Blue Jays. The Gorloks trailed 7-0 after two innings and 8-1 after three in the nightcap.
The seventh-inning rally started with a walk to Biagini and a single by sophomore
Craig Schaefer. Senior
Andrew Fuiten's three-run homerun got the Gorloks to 11-7. Senior
Kyle Starnes and sophomore
Brandon Micheletti kept the pressure on with back-to-back singles. However, WC was on the verge of salvaging the victory after getting two outs. Junior
Dakota Huey grounder to the backhand of the third baseman didn't get fielded cleanly for the error, scoring Starnes, and setting up Biagini's hit.
Webster added another unearned run in the inning, and junior
Bryce Law (1-2) slammed the door in the seventh to secure the victory. Law earned the victory with two innings of scoreless relief, striking out two. He combined with junior
Bryan Stanley to hurl 5 1/3 innings in relief of starter, junior
Peter Quintus. The relief duo yielding just two runs (one earned) on one hit in their stint out of the 'pen.
Fuiten was 3-for-3 with three RBI and three runs scored, while freshman
Chris Bielanski was 3-for-4 with three RBI. Starnes added two hits.
Two doubles and a single helped Webster sprint out to the 2-0 lead in the first inning of the opener. Huey laced a one-out double, stole third, and scored on a two-out double by Schaefer. Fuiten chased Schaefer home with a single.
That was enough offense for starter
Will Savage, who improved to 1-1 on the season. The junior right-hander handcuffed the Blue Jays, allowing one run on two hits over seven innings.
Webster recorded an unearned run in the fourth before adding five total insurance run over the sixth and seventh innings. The scoring was capped by a two-run homer by Biagini.
Huey finished 3-for-4 with two doubles and two run scored to lead the Gorloks. Sophomore
Nathan Shelton hit his first home run of the season to drive in two run. Fuiten and Biagini also had two RBI on the game.
Webster (6-8 overall, 3-0 SLIAC) will grapple with Greenville Friday and Saturday in a three-game series. The Gorloks will travel to Carlinville 2 p.m. Friday for a nine-inning game before hosting a seven-inning doubleheader noon Saturday at GCS Ballpark.
NOTES
- Six different players hit home runs as Webster went deep eight times in the three-game series. Sophomore Craig Schaefer and senior Andrew Fuiten went deep twice for WU.
- Webster has won seven straight, and 16 of the last 17 against Westminster.
- Fuiten hit .556 (5-for-9) with five RBI, five runs scored and three walks.
- Joe Biagini recorded a team-high six RBI in the series.
- The bullpen hurled 7 1/3 innings in the series, allowing two runs (one earned) on two hits.
QUOTES
Head Coach Bill Kurich
Initial Thoughts
"It was a great way for us to start conference play. Our bats are starting to wake up and we are starting to play the way I expected us to play."
On the WU offense
"We have a lot of confidence in our offense. We had no sense of panic (after trailing early). We didn't press. When teams start pressing when they are down, they never come back. We have done it for the last couple of year."
On the comeback
"We had chances all game. We kept hitting it right at them. Senior Alex) Raetzloff lined out a couple times. We were knocking at the door all game."
On the week ahead
"We have a long week of practice. We can use the week to get healthy. Greenville always plays us tough. (Senior Eric) Broughton and Savage had great outings. Hopefully we can carry over the confidence."
