The Webster University baseball team extended its winning streak to seven games with a double header win over Blackburn College, 5-0 & 10-0 (8 inn), on April 25 at St. Louis University. The Gorloks battled strong wind gusts in game one, but took advantage as the winds lightened up during the finale.
In the opener, Webster picked up an unearned run in the second when Matt Wollnik (SR, Naperville, IL/Nequa Valley) reached on an error and eventually scored on a second Beaver miscue to make it 1-0. Webster scored three more in the third.
Nate Tholl (SO, Tinley Ridge, IL/John A Logan CC) singled and Conner Wardlaw (JR, Arnold, MO/Jefferson College) reached on an E1. Tholl and Wardlaw pulled off a double steal, and Eric Outlaw FR, Park Ridge, IL/Maine West) walked to load the bases. Kyle Uhrich (SR, St. Louis, MO/Webster Groves) had a sac fly to score Tholl, as Wardlaw took third. Wollnik bunted into a fielder's choice, with Wardlaw being tagged out at the plate. Outlaw and Wollnik pulled off a double steal as well, and both scored on a double by Ben Dinter (JR, Gurnee, IL/College of Lake County), and Webster led 4-0.
Tholl singled with two down in the fourth, and scored on a double by Wardlaw...who took third on an error on the throw in. It was the fifth Beaver error of the contest, but Wardlaw was stranded as Webster now had a 5-0 lead.
Brandon Smith (SR, Imperial, MO/Seckman) got the win for the Gorloks. He had scattered five hits and allowed no runs through five innings but got in a jam in the sixth. After a single and two walks loaded the bases, Smith got a 6-4-3 double play to escape and keep the shutout intact. Smith wound up going seven innings, giving up six hits, three walks, no runs, and striking out two. He improves to 5-0 on the season.
Tholl was 3-3 with a double and two runs scored, and Dinter was 1-3 with a double and two RBIs. Wardlaw was 1-4 with a double and RBI.
Webster jumped on top
in the nightcap. Wardlaw singled, stole second and third, and came home on a single by Outlaw. After Outlaw got caught trying to take third on a passed ball, Uhrich tripled over the center fielder's head as the winds abated. Wollnik took advantage as well with a two-run home run over the left field wall, making it 3-0. It was Wollnik's third home run of the year, surpassing his home run total of two for his first three seasons combined.
Dinter added his third RBI of the night in the third, singling home Uhrich after he had singled and advanced to second on a 5-3 put out for a 4-0 lead. The Gorloks added three more in the fourth. Mike Wick (JR, Bartlett, IL/Bartlett) tripled to lead off and Adam Naliwajko (JR, Mt. Prospect, IL/St. Viator) doubled him home. Naliwajko took third on a ground out by Tholl, and scored on a single by Wardlaw. Uhrich walked and Wollnik singled, scoring Wardlaw to put the Gorloks up, 7-0.
Kyler Kent (FR, Pottsboro, TX/Pottsboro) had a pinch hit bloop double to center field to start the Webster fifth. Dakota DeFreitas (JR, Brechin, Ontario/John Wood CC) hit a rare two-base sacrifice fly to deep center, as Kent scored to make it 8-0.
Johnny Lord (SR, Naperville, IL/Nequa Valley) started for Webster and had seven strikeouts in his six innings of scoreless work, giving up two hits and two walks. He is now 4-1 on the season with the win. Matt Mulhearn (FR, Chicago Heights, IL/Marion Catholic) took over in the seventh. He got four straight infield ground outs to start his stint and finished with two scoreless innings.
DeFreitas doubled to lead off the eighth and K.J. Spisak (JR, Columbia, MO/Columbia) followed with a double down the left field line to score him. A sac fly by Wardlaw scored Spisak with the 10th run and Webster won by the 10-run rule.
Wollnik was 2-3 with a home run, three RBIs and a run, and Wardlaw was 2-4 with two RBIs and two runs scored. Uhrich was 2-3 with a triple and two runs and Naliwajko was 2-2 with an RBI and run scored.
Webster is 14-2 in the SLIAC and 24-9 overall. The Gorloks are ranked fourth in the latest NCAA III Regional rankings. Webster travels to Fulton, MO, to play a double header at Westminster College on April 29. The Gorloks complete the weekend series with a single game at GCS on April 30.
