The #22 ranked Webster University men’s baseball team defeated Ripon College (WI), 6-0, in the NCAA III Tournament Central Regional at Moline, IL, on May 19. The Gorloks bested the Red Hawks as Will Savage (SR, Benet Academy, IL) pitched a complete-game shutout, improving his record to 9-0. 

Savage scattered four hits, walked three, and struck out six in nine innings.  He lowered his season ERA to 1.52 as he picked up his third shutout and sixth complete game. Savage is now second on the Webster career all-time list in ERA, and third in wins and strikeouts.

Head coach Bill Kurich commented on the performance.  "Will Savage was awesome.  He put the team on his back the way a senior is supposed to.  We played well tonight for nine innings." 

Victor Valdez (Sr, Benet Academy, IL) got the Gorlok offense untracked in the fifth, breaking a scoreless tie with a two-out, two run single to center. The two RBIs gave Valdez 63 for the year, a new all-time, single-season high for Webster.

A four-run sixth increased the lead to 6-0 and finished the scoring for the Gorloks. Valdez was two for five with three RBIs, and Zach Little (SR, Ritenour HS, STL) reached base four times with two hits and two walks, and had two runs scored. 

Webster was the #4 seed in the regional, and Ripon College entered the game as #3.  Earlier in the day, #1 seeded Buena Vista (IA) and #2 seeded North Central (IL) fell into the ‘losers’ bracket as both were defeated. The Gorloks now have won three straight first round NCAA Regional games and are 34-9 on the season. 

The newest ABCA NCAA III national rankings (May 18) have Webster jumping to #22. The Gorloks will take on Rose-Hulman College (IN) on Thursday, May 20 at 7:00 p.m. at Swanson Stadium in Moline, IL. The Engineers are 30-12 on the season.