The Webster University baseball team managed a split with Concordia University-Chicago, losing 4-3 in 15 innings and winning 6-2 in a seven-inning contest, on May 1 in River Forest, IL. The opener saw the Gorloks drop its longest contest in two years, but a complete game by Johnny Lord gave them a win in game two against the #14 ranked Cougars.
In game one, the Gorloks gave up a run with no one down in the bottom of the 15th for the loss. Austin Beccue (SO, Red Bud, IL/Gibault Catholic HS), who had thrown four innings of scoreless relief, allowed a leadoff double to start the inning. The next Cougar batter reached on a fielder's choice on a sacrifice bunt and Beccue hit the following batter to load the bases. Zach Alexander (SO, Geneoso, IL/Geneoso HS) relieved Beccue but hit the first batter he faced to force in the winning run.
Webster had taken a 3-0 lead in the sixth. Jeff Kammer (SR, Chesterfield, MO/Lafayette HS) singled and Jake Milosch (FR, St. Charles, IL/St. Charles East HS) singled, with Kammer scoring and Milosch taking second on a Concordia throwing error. Adam Naliwajko (JR, Mt. Prosptect, IL/St. Viator HS) doubled in Milosch and Matt Wollnik (JR, Naperville, IL/Nequa Valley HS) doubled in Naliwajko to make it 3-0.
Webster starter Trey Tigart (JR, Sikeston, MO/Sikeston HS) had thrown six scoreless innings, but was touched for a run in the seventh. Tigart got into a jam in the eighth and Mitch Stefani (SR, Aurora, IL/Waubonsie Valley HS) relieved. Stefani gave up two hits that scored two runs and Matt Goro (JR, Wildwood, MO/Lafayette HS) was summoned from the pen. Goro came in and put out the fire by getting the last two outs to end the inning, but the score was tied at 3-3.
Beccue took over in the 11th, getting himself out of a jam in the 14th before the Cougars broke through in the 15th. Tigart went 7 1/3 innings, giving up seven hits, three walks, and one earned run. Stefani gave up two hits and a run, and Goro went 2 2/3 innings, giving up a hit, two walks, and striking out two. Beccue wound up going four innings, allowing five hits, two walks, and one run. Beccue struck out five while taking the loss to drop to 1-1.
Kammer was 3-5 with a double, walk, stolen base, and run scored in the game. Milosch was 2-5 with two walks and a runs scored, and Naliwajko was 1-4 with a double and an RBI.
The last time the Gorloks played in a contest this long was a 19-inning affair vs. Westminster in 2014. Webster eventually won that marathon in Fulton, 2-1.
In game two, the score was tied 2-2 after two innings. Concordia scored single runs in the first and second off Webster starter Lord (JR, Naperville, IL/Nequa Valley HS), but sandwiched in between was a pair of Gorlok runs in the second. Kammer singled and Milosch walked. Wollnik and Mike Golich (SO, Aurora, IL/Aurora West HS) followed with RBI singles.
Webster took a 4-2 lead in the fourth. Wollnik walked and catcher Bailey Magruder (FR, New Lenox, IL/Lincoln Way West HS) singled. Gorich scored Wollnik with an RBI single and after Brandon Smith (JR, Imperial, MO/Seckman HS) walked, a passed ball scored Magruder. The Gorloks added another run in the fifth when Kammer singled and stole second. Naliwajko had a pinch-hit infield single and Kammer swiped third before Wollnik singled him home to make it 5-2.
The Gorloks manufactured a run in the sixth when Mike Wick (SO, Bartlett, IL/Bartlett HS) walked and was sacrificed to second by Smith. Wick stole third and Kyle Uhrich (JR, St. Louis, MO/Webster Groves HS) hit a sac fly to right to give Webster a 6-2 lead. That would be it for the scoring in the seven-inning affair.
Lord went seven innings, gave up nine hits, two runs, a walk, and struck out 10. He is now 5-2 on the season with the win. Wollnik was 2-3 with two RBIs, a walk and run scored. Golich was 2-3 with two RBIs, and Kammer was 3-5 with two stolen bases and two runs scored. Kammer was 6-10 in the doubleheader, with three stolen bases, three runs, a double and a walk.
Webster saw a nine-game win streak fall by the boards in the opener. The Gorloks are 24-13 on the season. The Cougars, currently ranked fourth in the NCAA III Central Region also, are now 27-9. They had won 17 of their previous 19 games before Webster's win in game two.
The Gorloks wrap up the SLIAC schedule with a doubleheader at Blackburn College on May 6 in Carlinville, IL, and end the regular season with a single game at Rose-Hulman Institute (IN) on May 8. Webster has clinched a spot in the SLIAC Tournament, which will be held on May 12-14 in Greenville, IL.
