The Webster University men's baseball team utilized a power surge to open the 2016 season with a 13-8 win over Covenant College (GA) in Memphis, TN. Three Gorloks went deep, including two newcomers to the team, and veteran Jack Bensinger picked up the win on the mound for Webster. The Gorloks weren't as fortunate in the nightcap, watching a 6-1 seventh-inning lead evaporate in an 9-6 loss to Huntingdon College (AL) at Millington, TN.
Down 2-1 after two innings to Covenant, Webster had three-run rallies in the fourth and fifth to take a 7-2 lead, then put the game out of reach with a five-run eighth. A solo home run by newcomer Matt Murawski (FR, Mokena, IL/St. Rita HS) and a three-run shot by Blake Thomas (SR, Troy, IL/Highland HS) fueled the eigth-inning outburst. Another newcomer to the program, Brandon Smith (JR, Imperial, MO/Carl Sandburg CC), also went deep in the first, homering in his first at-bat to give Webster three dingers for the game.
The Scots knocked Webster starter Jack Bensinger (SR, Los Angeles,CA/Campbell Hall) out in the sixth and Trey Tigart (JR, Sikeston, MO/Sikeston HS) was called on to put out the fire. Tigart was nicked for two unearned runs in the seventh as Covenant closed to 8-6, but a five-run eighth for the Gorloks locked up the Webster win.
Bensinger went 5 2/3 innings to pick up the win. He allowed six hits, four walks, and four runs, while striking out four. Tigart went 2 1/3 innings and allowed four hits and no earned runs, striking out two. Joe Elfrink (JR, Leopold, MO/Leopold HS) started on the mound in the ninth but after giving up two runs with no outs, Mitch Stefani (SR, Aurora, IL/Waubonsie Valley HS) was called on to retire the side and close out the game.
Webster rapped out 17 hits in the contest. Thomas was 2-5, with five RBIs, home run, double, and three runs scored. Murawski was 2-4 with a home run and Smith was 3-5 with a home run, RBI, and three runs scored. Another newcomer, Zach Bishop (JR, Marshall, MO/John Wood CC) went 3-6 in his first game, scoring three runs and driving in one.
Covenant is located in Lookout Mountain, GA, and is a member of the USA South Athletic Conference, as is Huntingdon College.
In the nightcap against Huntingdon, Webster scored in the second, fourth, sixth, and seventh innings, and led 6-2 heading into the top of the eighth. The Hawks reached the Gorloks for one run in the eighth, but the wheels came apart in the ninth as four Webster relievers gave up six runs.
Matt Goro (JR, Wildwood, MO/Lafayette HS) got the start for Webster and went seven solid innings. Goro gave up seven hits, two walks, and one earned run, and struck out two, leaving in the eighth with a 6-1 lead. Stefani relieved again but was tagged for three hits and five earned runs, giving up three walks and hitting a batter as he took the loss.
Offensively for the Gorloks, Mike Wick (SO, Bartlett, IL/Bartlett HS) was 3-5 with two RBIs, and Adam Naliwajko (JR, Mt. Prospect, IL/St. Viator HS) was 1-1, with two walks, two runs, an RBI, a sac and a sac fly.
Expectations are running high this year as Webster was picked fifth in the ABCA/Collegiate Baseball, and sixth in the d3baseball.com 2016 preseason polls. The Gorloks were also picked to win the St. Louis Inercollegiate Athletic Conference West Division. In addition, Kyle Uhrich was a preseason All-American pick by d3baseball.com.
Webster finished 34-15 in 2015, playing in its third NCAA III World Series in the past four seasons.
Webster faces host Rhodes College on February 21 at 11:00 a.m. back in Memphis. The Gorloks have four home games next weekend, Feb. 26-28, at GCS Ballpark in Sauget, IL.
