Unable to make up a big hole in game one, but digging a big one for its opponents in game two, the Webster University baseball team split a doubleheader with Iowa Wesleyan University, losing 7-6 and winning 12-2 in seven innings. The split with the Tigers took place on April 3 in Mt. Pleasant, IA
In game one, the Gorloks fell behind, 7-1, after two innings. Two first inning errors by Webster were costly as Iowa Wesleyan scored three runs, and three singles, a double, and a home run helped the Tigers put four more on the board in the second.
Webster chipped away at the lead, scoring three runs in the third to cut the deficit to 7-4. Kyle Uhrich's (JR, St. Louis, MO/Webster Groves HS) three-run homer, after Mike Wick (SO, Bartlett, IL/Bartlett HS) had reached on an error and Jeff Kammer (SR, Chesterfield, MO/Lafayette HS) walked, was the big blow.
Webster scored single runs in the fifth and sixth. After a leadoff walk by Uhrich and a single by Jake Milosch, Uhrich came home on a groundout by Blake Thomas (SR, Troy, IL/Triad HS) to make it 7-5 in the fifth. Mike Golich (SO, Aurora, IL/West Aurora HS) singled in the sixth and Kammer walked with two down. Golich scored on an error on the Tigers third baseman on a Uhrich grounder to make it 7-6.
The Gorloks had leadoff singles by Thomas and Dylan Rajkovich (SR, Orland Park, IL/Carl Sandburg HS) in the seventh but couldn't score as they fell, 7-6, in the scheduled seven-inning contest.
Trey Tigart (JR, Sikeston, MO/Sikeston HS) started and went all six innings for Webster. He gave up eight hits and seven runs, five earned, while striking out five. Tigart fell to 2-5 with the loss.
In game two, the Gorloks turned the tails on the Tigers and built a 7-0 lead. In the Webster second, Milosch was hit by a pitch and Thomas singled. With one down, Matt Wollnik ((JR, Naperville, IL/Nequa Valley HS) hit a sac fly to score Milosch and reached on an error by the Tiger right fielder. Bailey Magruder (FR, New Lenox, IL/Lincoln Way West HS) grounded out to the mound to score Thomas and Wollnik was able to reach third on a wild pitch. After Brandon Smith (JR, Imperial, MO/Seckman HS) was hit by a pitch and stole second, Wick singled Wollnik and Smith home for a 4-0 lead.
Webster scored a single run in the third when Milosch was hit by a pitch and Thomas walked, with both pulling off a double steal to move up to second and third. A groundout by Kammer scored Milosch to make it 5-0. The Gorloks added two more in the fourth when Magruder walked and Smith singled, with Magruder taking third. Wick laid down a sac bunt with Magruder scoring and a two-out double by Uhrich made it 7-0 as Smith scored.
The Tigers nicked Webster starter Mitch Stefani (SR, Aurora, IL/Waubonsie Valley HS) for a run in the fourth, scoring on a two-out double. Webster scored three more in the fifth when two straight batters reached on hit by pitch to lead off the inning, and a bunt single all turned into runs as the Gorloks took a 10-1 lead. Webster made it a 12-2 advantage in the sixth after a single by Wollnik, double by Rajkovich, single by Smith, and another Tiger error scored two more.
Stefani gave way to Smith, who moved into the mound from the outfield, in the seventh. Smith allowed a run but the Gorloks' 12-2 lead put the 10-run rule into effect as the game ended after seven. Stefani went six innings, giving up five hits and a run, walking none and striking out four as he improved to 3-1 on the season.
Wick was 1-3 with four RBIs, and Wollnik was 2-4 with three runs scored and an RBI. Smith was 2-2 with two runs scored, an RBI, walk, and a stolen base. The Gorloks were beneficiaries of five hit batters and five errors by Wesleyan in the contest.
Webster is now 6-2 in the SLIAC and 12-10 overall. Iowa Wesleyan is 3-2 in the SLIAC and 7-10 overall.
The Gorloks will travel to Greenville College (IL) for a doubleheader on April 5, and then hosts Westminster College for a doubleheader on April 9 at GCS Ballpark.
