Box Score The Webster University baseball team completed a successful Russ Matt Central Florida Invitational with a 9-4 win over #25 ranked Augustana College (IL), on March 16, in Winter Haven, FL.  Alex Kazmierski (SR, Triton College, IL) was four for five and Isaac Behme (SO, Harrisburg HS, IL) picked up the win as the Gorloks finished the trip 5-1 against some of the top NCAA III competition in the nation.
 
The Gorloks finished the Russ Matt Central Florida Invitational with an overall record of 7-5.  The Vikings had come into the contest with a 9-1 record and had just climbed into the national NCAA III rankings at #25.

Webster built up a 6-0 lead, then stumbled through a rocky sixth inning when Augustana rallied for three runs, but the Gorlok bullpen shut down the Vikings the rest of the way.  In the first Corey Lasky (JR, College of Lake Country, IL) singled and Ryan Hall (JR, Central Arkansas, MO) reached on an error as Lasky took third.  Hall stole second and a Taylor Stoulp (SR, St. Mary's HS, MO) ground out to short scored Lasky.  Hall then scored on a passed ball to make it 2-0 Webster.

In the second, Alex Kazmierski (SR, Triton College, IL) doubled, took second on a ground out, and scored on a sacrifice fly by Kevin Kojs (JR, Lincoln Way Central HS, IL).  Webster took a commanding lead in the fourth as Mike Rainbolt (SR, Kankakee CC, IL) walked and Kazmierski singled.  Kazmierski was out trying to stretch the hit into a double, but Joe Winckel (JR, North County HS, MO) followed with  a single to score Rainbolt.  After a Kojs walk, Jared Turner (JR, Chatham Glenwood HS, IL) singled home Winckel.  Cody Stevenson (SR, Centralia HS, IL) walked to load the bases and Lasky lifted a sac fly for Webster's third run in the inning and sixth in the game.

An Augustana three-run sixth then chased Behme from the game.  Behme had pitched five scoreless innings on four hits and two walks, but with two out and no one on in the sixth, he let up a walk and four consecutive singles as the Vikings scored three and had two on.  Ryan Martinez (SR, Illinois Valley CC) was summoned from the bullpen and served up a fly ball to end the inning.  Martinez wound up going two and a third innings, giving up one run on three hits.  Brett Buchanan (JR, Willowbrook HS, IL) came on the pitch the ninth, protecting a 9-4 lead, and retired the side.

Behme went five and two-third innings, allowing nine hits, three walks, three earned runs, and striking out three.  He evens his season record at 2-2 with the win.  Kazmierski was four for five with a run scored, a double, and an RBI.  Rainbolt was two for four, with two runs scored and an RBI.   Turner was three for four, with an RBI, and Winckel was two for four, with a run scored and an RBI.

On the 5-1 trip, Webster knocked off Wheaton College (MA), then ranked #1, #9 ranked St. Joseph's College (ME), the defending 2012 NCAA III World Series champion and #2 ranked Marietta College (OH), and #25 Augustana.  Its only loss was to the now #1 ranked Cortland State (NY).

The Gorloks have a week off before opening up play in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference with a doubleheader at MacMurray College on March 23, in Jacksonville, IL. Webster will return home on March 24 for a single game vs MacMuray at GCS Ballpark.