The Webster University men’s baseball team is headed back to the NCAAs, after a one-year hiatus, by winning the SLIAC tournament with a 7-3 win over Greenville College (IL) in Highland, IL, on May 15. Bryan Stanley (SR, Larkin HS, IL) pitched the final three and a third innings for the second time in the tournament, and picked up his first save in 21 appearances.
 
Stanley pitched six and two-thirds innings in the tournament, allowing no runs, two hits, one walk, and striking out 12, and was named the Most Valuable Player. In addition to the save, he picked up the win in the Gorloks 8-5 victory over Eureka College (IL) in the first round.
 
David Mueller (SO, Westminster Christian Academy, STL) picked up his seventh win of the season, pitching five and two-thirds innings. Mueller was bailed out of a two-out, sixth-inning bases loaded jam, by Stanley, who fell behind 3-0 before striking out the batter to end the threat.
 
Victor Valdez (SR, Benet Academy, IL) put an exclamation point on his last St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference game by going four for four, with four RBIs and a double.  For the tournament Valdez was 7-13 with 10 RBIs and two mammoth home runs.  Valdez, Stanley, John Combs (SR, Macomb HS, IL), and Will Savage (SR, Benet Academy, IL), were named to the SLIAC All-Tournament Team. 
 
The Gorloks will be making their fifth trip to the NCAA Tournament in the past six years. Webster won its fourth St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tournament in the last five completed tourneys. Over a three day span and constant threat of rain, the Gorloks defeated Eureka, Fontbonne University, and Greenville to win this year’s championship. 

The baseball team becomes the fifth Webster sport to advance to the NCAA Tournament this year, following the men’s and women’s soccer, women’s volleyball, and women’s tennis.  Webster will find out on May 17 where they are headed in the NCAA Tournament.