Box Score The Webster University baseball team performed a rare feat, defeating the #1 and #2 ranked NCAA III teams in the same week, when it toppled Marietta College (OH), 3-2, in 10 innings in North Charlotte, FL, on March 15.  Starter Steven Dooley (SR, Oran HS, MO), who had a hand in both wins, pitched 8 2/3 strong innings of work in the victory.

The Gorloks had defeated #1 ranked Wheaton College (MA), 10-1, earlier in the week as Dooley pitched a complete game gem.  Webster added a win over #9 St. Joseph's College (ME) just a day earlier, making it three victories over top-ten rated teams for the week.  Despite Dooley's effort, Webster had to go extra innings for the decision over Marietta.

Dooley was sailing along with two out in the ninth and a 2-0 lead, but after a walk and a double...and 143 pitches thrown, Dooley gave way to Jason Gray (SR, North Central CC, MO).  Gray coaxed the next batter into grounding back to the mound, but his throw sailed past first baseman Brett Buchanan (JR, Willowbrook HS, IL), allowing both runs to score.  Gray struck out the next  batter to send the game into extra innings.

In the top of the tenth, Cody Stevenson (SR, Centralia HS, IL) walked and after a Corey Lasky (College of Lake County, IL) sac bunt, Ryan Hall (JR, Central Arkansas, MO) singled in Stevenson to give Webster a 3-2 lead.  Gray got a ground out and a strikeout to start the 10th, but a a hit batter and a single put runners at first and second.  A grounder to first baseman Brett Buchanan (JR, Willowbrook HS, IL) ended the threat and the game.

Webster had taken a 1-0 lead in the sixth after Kevin Kojs (JR, Lincoln Way Central HS, IL) doubled to start the inning and Stevenson followed with a walk.  After Kojs was forced out at third on a grounder to short, Hall singled in Stevenson for the first run of the game.  The Gorloks made it 2-0 in the seventh after Jared Turner (JR, Chatham Glenwood HS, IL) singled, Ian Foege (JR, Eureka HS, MO) walked, and Kojs singled to load the bases.  Stevenson hit a sac fly to center to score Turner.

Up until the ninth, the Pioneers only had one real scoring threat, that coming in the fifth.  Marietta had runners at second and third, with two out, after a single, a walk, and a passed ball.  But Dooley got the next batter to pop up on the infield to get out of the inning unscathed.

Dooley allowed five hits, two walks, and two unearned runs in his eight and two-thirds innings of work.  With five strikeouts on the afternoon, Dooley moved into third place in career strikeouts on Webster's all-time high list with 160..  He lowered his season ERA to 1.24 with the no earned runs allowed for a second straight game.

Webster is 4-1 on the trip and 6-5 overall on the season.  The Gorloks will conclude the Russ Matt Invitational with a contest vs. Augustana College (IL), in Winter Haven on March 16.  Webster has a week off then before opening play in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference with a doubleheader at MacMurray College (IL) on March 23.