SAUGET, IL - Webster pounded out 22 runs on 22 hits in the completion of its three-game series sweep of Greenville by taking both ends of Friday's doubleheader, 12-4 and 10-1, at GCS Ballpark.
While the offensive was spraying balls all over the ballpark, the two starters were keeping the Panthers' toothless. Starters
Will Savage (2-1) and
Peter Quintus (2-0) allowed just two runs (one earned) over 12 combined innings. Quintus, who recorded a career-high 10 strikeouts, came within one out of a complete game shutout.
The stellar outing helped cloud the memory over his last outing in which he failed to get out of the second inning in Webster's comeback victory over Westminster. While Quintus' start proved his last start as an fluke, Savage used it as a continuation from his dominance of the Titans. He has surrendered two runs (one earned) on five hits with nine strikeouts in the last 12 innings.
Greenville scored an unearned run to take the early lead, but freshman
Joe Biagini's two-run double capped a three-run first. The Gorloks were off an running. With four extra-base hits, including the first home run on the season by senior
Alex Raetzloff, Webster dropped the hammer for six runs in the four inning. With the six-run blitzing, the WU lead stood at 11-1.
Senior
Andrew Fuiten's two-run double during the fertile fourth inning was his lone official at-bat. He drew three walks and scored three runs. Biagini finished with a team-high three RBI, while Fuiten, Raetzloff and sophomore
Brandon Micheletti all had two RBI.
Webster raced out to the early lead with three runs in the second inning, and after the dust cleared on a five-run fourth - the Gorloks led, 9-0. Three consecutive misplays aided the big scoring inning. Fuiten unleashed some frustration from his three-walk game by pounding out three hits in four at-bats with an RBI and two runs scored.
Junior
Dakota Huey mammoth home run that quickly left GCS in the third was part of his two-hit, two-RBI performance. He also scored twice in the game. Junior
Zach Little chipped in with a two-RBI game.
Webster (9-9 overall, 6-0 SLIAC) returns to the diamond 5 p.m. Tuesday by hosting Blackburn in a SLIAC doubleheader at GCS Ballpark.
NOTES
- Kyle Starnes made his first start at second base, while Dustin List made his first career start.
- With the three-game sweep, Webster tied the overall series at 20. The Gorloks have won 13 of the last 14 game against the Panthers.
- Head coach Bill Kurich utilized the 15th and 16th different lineup of the season. It was the 17th game of the season.
- Dakota Huey, less than halfway through the season, has already surpassed his number of stolen bases from last season.
- Brandon Micheletti recorded his first career multi-RBI game.
QUOTES
Head Coach Bill Kurich
On Peter Quintus
"Three of his four starts have been good starts. We wasn't in a zone last week. It was a matter of settling in early and throwing his breaking ball early. He got ahead of hitters. It changes the entire the game."
On losing the shutout
"It shouldn't take anything away from his performance. He pitched well. He was dominant. His velocity was good all day."
