Box Score The Webster University baseball team won a game scheduled at the 11th hour as the Gorloks downed the College of New Jersey, 6-5 in 10 innings, on March 13, at Lakeland, FL. A walk off single by Cody Stevenson (SR, Centralia HS, IL) in the 10th, and three scoreless innings of relief by Jason Gray (SR, North Central CC, MO) fueled the Webster victory at the Russ Matt Central Florida Invitational.
In the 10th, Kevin Kojs (JR, Lincoln Way Central HS, IL) walked to lead off the inning and gave way to pinch-runner Jared Turner (JR, Chatham Glenwood HS, IL). After an Ian Foege (JR, Eureka HS, MO) bunt moved him over and Korey Vire (FR, Georgetown Ridge Farm HS, IL) walked, both runners moved up on a wild pitch. Stevenson sent Turner home with the game winner on a single to left.
Jason Gray (SR, North Central CC, MO) relieved in the 8th and pitched three scoreless innings, allowing one hit and striking out three, to pick up the win.
The Gorloks had been scheduled for a day off, but after a rainout of a game with Central College (IA) on March 12, a make up with the College of New Jersey was quickly arranged.
New Jersey took an early lead with two runs in the top of the first with a little help from the Gorloks. An error by shortstop Ryan Hall (JR, Central Arkansas, MO), followed by a double off starter Dylan Dean Smith (JR, Edwards County HS, IL) put runners at second and third. A wild pitch sent the first New Jersey run home, moving the other runner to third. A ground out to second scored the Lions second run.
Webster quickly negated the Lions lead with a four-spot in the bottom of the inning. Hall singled with with one down, and with two out, Brett Buchanan (JR, Willowbrook HS, IL) walked and Mike Rainbolt (SR, Kankakee CC, IL) followed with a run-scoring single. Alex Kazmierski (SR, Triton College, IL) then homered to straight away center field for a three-run blast, just the Gorloks second round-tripper of the year.
In the second, Foege and Mitchell Bonds (SR, Kankakee CC, IL) singled to lead off the inning, and Stevenson bunted them over. A Hall sacrifice fly to center field scored Foege, but Bonds was called out for leaving early second early to end the rally with Webster up, 5-2.
Smith had settled in on the mound, allowing just two hits and striking out four over the next four innings. But more Gorlok miscues allowed the Lions to tie it up in the sixth. After a strikeout to start the inning, a single and errors by Hall and Smith plated one run, and another single added a second. A runner caught stealing second gave the Gorloks a chance to get out of the inning with the lead, but a second error by Hall and another single tied it up at 5-5.
Webster had a chance to take the lead in the bottom of the seventh as Taylor Stoulp (SR, St. Mary's HS, MO) singled to lead off, moved to second on an error by the Lions pitcher, and was bunted over to third by Buchanan. But two strikeouts, sandwiching a Kazmierski walk, ended the threat.
The Gorloks had another golden opportunit to take the lead in the eighth on lead off singles by Foege and Bonds. But Foege was thrown out at home trying to score on a failed pickoff attempt and Stevenson struck out. Hall walked after fighting off two pitches on a full count, but Stoulp ended the inning with a strikeout.
Rainbolt wound up three for five, with a double, an RBI, and a run scored. Kazmierski was two for three, with a home run and three RBIs. Foege was two for four with a run scored, and Bonds was two for four, and was on base three times. Starter Smith finished with seven innings pitched, allowing eight hits and two earned runs, while walking none and striking out five.
The Gorloks are 4-5 on the season, and continue play in the Russ Matt with a game vs. St. Joseph's College (ME) on March 14, at Winter Haven FL.
