The Webster University baseball team suffered a pair of losses and was eliminated from the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tournament, on May 13 at Greenville, IL.  The Gorloks lost to Westminster College, 10-1, to fall into the elimination bracket where Greenville College edged Webster, 4-3.

Webster will now await word from the NCAA III baseball selection committee on whether it will receive an at-large berth to the 2016 Championships.  The Gorloks are ranked #6 in the most recent NCAA III Central Region poll and picked up wins the last couple weeks over regionally ranked foes, Concordia University-Chicago and Rose-Hulman Institute (IN).  Webster will host the Central Regional on May 18-22 at GCS Ballpark.

The Gorloks fell into the elimination bracket with the loss to Westminster.  Webster took a 1-0 lead in the first when Mick Wick (SO, Bartlett, IL/Bartlett HS) doubled to lead off and Jeff Kammer (SR, Chesterfield, MO/Lafayette HS) singled him home with two down.  That would be the only score in the game for Webster.

The Blue Jays nicked Gorlok starter Josh Fleming (SO, Columbia, IL/Columbia HS) for a solo home run in the second to tie the game at 1-1.  Westminster scored an unearned run in the third and two more in the fourth to put the Gorloks in a 4-1 hole.  Westminster broke it open in the seventh inning, chasing Fleming after reaching him for three hits and a walk.  Mitch Stefani (SR, Aurora, IL/Waubonsie Valley HS) came on in relief and, after a Webster error scored the fourth run of the inning, struck out the final batter.

Westminster would score two more in the eighth off Brett Jungles (JR, Naperville, IL/St. Francis HS). Jungles gave up three hits and a walk before Joe Elfrink (JR, Leopold, MO/Leopold HS) was called on to retire the final two batters.  Elfrink would retire the side in the ninth and threw an inning and a third of scoreless relief.  Fleming went 6 2/3 innings, giving up eight hits and eight runs, only four earned, and striking out six.  He took his first loss of the year, falling to 4-1.

Wick was 3-4 with a pair of doubles and a run scored, jumping his average back up to .378.  Kammer would up 3-4 with a double and an RBI, raising his season average to .338.

Against Greenville, Webster and starter Trey Tigart (JR, Sikeston, MO/Sikeston HS) fell behind 4-0.  The Panthers had a solo home run in the third, and scored three more in the fourth. Greenville had a one-out single and double for a run and, with two out, another single plated a second run.  Matt Goro (JR, Wildwood, MO/Lafayette HS) was then summoned from the pen.  Goro gave up a pair of singles to allow the third run of the inning before getting the final out via a strikeout.

Goro, who pitched only four innings from March 5 through May 1 and then pitched in the wins over Concordia and Rose-Hulman, wound up going 5 2/3 scoreless innings.  He held the Panthers in check on only six hits, no walks, and six strikeouts, giving Webster an opportunity to get back in the game.  The Gorloks finally struck in the fifth.

Dylan Rajkovich (SR, Orland Park, IL/Carl Sandburg HS) walked and Matt Wollnik (JR, Naperville, IL/Nequa Valley HS) singled.  Mike Golich (SO, Aurora, IL/West Aurora HS) reached on a fielder's choice as Wollnik was safe at second on a ground ball to the Panther second baseman, loading the bases.  Greenville changed pitchers and Wick walked in a run.  With one down, Kyle Uhrich (JR, St. Louis, MO/Webster Groves HS) walked in a run also to make it 4-2.  Blake Thomas (SR, Troy, IL/Triad HS) hit into a forceout as Golich scored, cutting the lead to 4-3.

Thomas doubled with one out in the eighth, and advanced to third with two down, but a line drive by Jake Milosch (FR, St. Charles, IL/St. Charles East HS) was snagged by the Panther third baseman to end the threat.  The Gorloks had one more shot in the ninth.  Rajkovich led off with a single and pinch-runner Ryan Fischer (SR, Manchester, MO/Parkway South HS) was bunted to second by Wollnik.  But the last two batters went down in order for Webster and Greenville moved on to the championship round vs. Westminster.

With his scoreless outing, Goro's earned run average on the season fell to 0.96.  He has given up only four earned runs in 37 2/3 innings of work.  Tigart would take the loss for Webster, going 3 2/3 innings and giving up five hits, three earned runs, and striking out two.  He is 4-7 on the year. 

Thomas was 2-3 with a double, RBI, and walk.  He was 3-5 on the day and is batting .349 on the season.  Rajkovich was 1-2 with two walks and a run scored, and Wick was 1-3 with two walks. 

For their efforts, Thomas and Jack Bensinger (GR, Los Angeles, CA/Campbell Hall) were named to the 2016 SLIAC All-Tournament Team.

Webster, the #1 seed in the tournament, is 28-15 overall.  Greenville (23-20) will face Westminster (27-12) on May 14, and will have to beat the Blue Jays twice in the double elimination format.  The winner automatically advances to the NCAA III Championships.