The Webster University baseball team opened play in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, beating Greenville College, 2-1 and 6-5 in 12 innings. The Gorloks had a walk-off single for the winner in the seventh in the opener, and a walk-off single for the winner in the 12th in the nightcap.
In game one, Webster scored the game winner in the bottom of the seventh when Matt Wollnik (SR, Naperville, IL/Nequa Valley) led off with a ground rule double to right. Brandon Smith (SR, Imperial, MO/Seckman) laid down a sacrifice bunt and legged it out as Wollnik reached third. Joe Swanson (FR, Park Ridge, IL/Maine West) lined back to the mound, with Smith doubled off first. When it looked like the Panthers may escape, Nate Tholl (SO, Tinley Ridge, IL/John A Logan CC) singled up the middle as Wollnik crossed the plate.
That made a winner out of Josh Fleming (JR, Columbia, IL/Columbia), who scattered three hits, gave up one walk, and struck out eight in seven innings. His only run allowed was unearned as his season earned run average fell to 0.51. Fleming is now 2-0 on the season.
Greenville took a 1-0 lead in the second with an unearned run off Fleming . With one down, the Panthers had back to back singles. The next batter hit a tailor-made double play grounder to third but the ball was booted as the runner scored from second. The next batter grounded into a 6-3 double play, limiting the damage to the one run.
Webster got that run right back in the bottom half of the inning. Zach Bishop (JR, Marshall, MO/Marshall) singled, moved to second on a ground out, and with two down scored on a Smith double to tie it at 1-1. Smith wound up 2-3 with a double and an RBI in the win as Webster had seven hits in the contest.
In game two, Gorlok starter Matt Goro (SR, Wildwood, MO/Lafayette) let up a two-run homer in the Greenville first as the Panthers took a 2-0 lead. Greenville picked up another run in the third on two singles and a two-out Webster error.
Webster knotted it up in its half of the third when Smith walked and Swanson doubled him home. Dakota DeFreitas (JR, Brechin, Ontario/John Wood CC) followed with his first home run as a Gorlok, just inside the right field foul pole, to tie the game at 3-3.
The Panthers broke that tie in the top of the fourth when, with two out, they had two singles and a ground rule double to take a 4-3 lead. In the eighth, Greenville had a double and single, ending Goro's day. Matt Mulhearn (FR, Chicago Heights, IL/Marion Catholic) relieved and a run scored on a ground out. After a pair of walks, Mulhearn got out of the inning without any more damage. Goro went seven innings, allowing 12 hits, a walk, and striking out one, giving up four earned runs.
The Gorloks tied it in the eighth after Kyle Uhrich (SR, St. Louis, MO/Webster Groves) and Bishop led off with singles. Uhrich and pinch-runner C. J. Lee (JR, Aurora, IL/Waubonsie Valley) advanced on a passed ball, and with one-out Wollnik singled in Uhrich. An errant pickoff attempt on Lee by the Panther catcher allowed Lee to take home with the tying run.
Uhrich relieved Mulhearn with one down in the ninth, and pitched Webster out of the inning, and pitched the 10th, 11th, and 12th as well. He went 3 2/3 scoreless innings, striking out out five.
Webster had a chance In 11th, Wollnik singled, Swanson was hit by a pitch with one down, and DeFreitas walked to load the bases. But the next two Gorloks went down and the game was headed to the 12th.
Uhrich led off the bottom of the 12th with a double and Kyler Kent (FR, Pottsboro, TX/Pottsboro) singled to right, moving Uhrich to third. Kent took second on indifference. Eric Outlaw (FR, Park Ridge, IL/Maine West) sent Uhrich home with a walk-off single.
Uhrich was the winning pitcher and is 2-0 on season. He wound up 3-6 at the plate, with a double and two runs scored. Swanson was 3-4, with a double, RBI, and run scored, and Wollnik was 3-5 with an RBI.
The Gorloks are back in action on March 26 at GCS, facing Wartburg College (IA) and Concordia University-Chicago.
