The Webster University baseball team split a doubleheader with MacMurray College, falling to a no-hitter in the opener, 1-0, but rattling the bats in the nightcap for a 7-0 win. The Gorloks had two outstanding starts by Jack Bensinger and Trey Tigart, and were beneficiaries of the long ball in the game two victory.
The Gorloks, who came into the inning with a 2-0 lead, broke
game two open in the seventh. Blake Thomas (SR, Troy, IL/Triad HS) was hit by a pitch to lead off and Adam Naliwajko (SO, Mt. Prospect, IL/St. Viator HS) singled. After a Mike Golich (SO, Aurora, IL/West Aurora HS) sac bunt moved the runners over, Mike Wick (SO, Bartlett, IL/Bartlett HS) singled home Thomas. Kyle Uhrich (JR, St. Louis, MO/Webster Groves HS) followed with a three-run homer, a blast over the left field wall. It was Uhrich's, who led the NCAA III with 17 homers in 2015, first of the season and Webster led 6-0.
Webster got on the board in the second, Thomas singled and stole second. Naliwajko drove Thomas in with a single to left for the Gorloks' first run. The Gorloks made it 2-0 in the sixth when Jeff Kammer (SR, Chesterfield, MO/Lafayette HS) spanked his team-leading third home run of the season.
Tigart (SR, Sikeston, MO/Sikeston HS) started game two for Webster, throwing 7 2/3 innings of shutout ball. He gave up three hits, two walks, and struck out seven while picking up his second win of the season. Mitch Stefani (SR, Aurora, IL/Waubonsie Valley HS) took over in the eighth and pitched the final 1 1/3 scoreless innings for the Gorloks as he and Tigart combined for the shutout.
Uhrich was 1-4 with the home run and three RBIs, and Kammer was 1-4 with a home run and RBI. Wick was 2-5 with an RBI, two stolen bases, and a run scored. Naliwajko was 2-4 with an RBI and run scored.
In
game one, the Highlander starting pitcher, Luke Jarvis, no-hit the Gorloks for the seven inning contest. The closest Jarvis came to allowing a hit was in the seventh when Mike Golich (SO, Aurora, IL/Aurora West HS) laid down a one-out bunt that Jarvis fielded on his knees, but his throw pulled the first baseman off the bag for an error. The only other runner to reach base for Webster was Kammer when he was hit by a pitch in the first. A check into the Webster record books will be necessary to see if and when Webster has been no-hit previously.
Overlooked was the performance by Webster's starter, Bensinger (GR, Los Angeles, CA/Campbell Hall), who went seven innings, gave up five hits, no walks, and one run on a solo home run just above the yellow line in the right field corner in the first. Bensinger lowered his season earned run average to 2.25 as he fell to 3-2 with the loss.
Webster is 10-9 overall and 4-1 in the SLIAC. MacMurray is 9-11 and 4-3 in the SLIAC.
The Gorloks travel to Mt. Pleasant, IA, on April 2-3, to play Iowa Wesleyan University for a three-game series.
