The #26 ranked Webster University baseball team had back to back shutouts from Josh Fleming and Kyle Uhrich as it beat Fontbonne University, 5-0 & 5-0, on May 6 at GCS Ballpark. The Gorloks clinched first place overall in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference with an 18-3 record in conference.
In the opener, Webster started the scoring with two runs n the first. Conner Wardlaw (JR, Arnold, MO/DeSmet Jesuit) doubled to lead off but was thrown out at third on a grounder to short by Eric Outlaw (FR, Park Ridge, IL/Maine West). After Outlaw took second on a wild pitch, Uhrich (SR, St. Louis, MO/Webster Groves) doubled him home and scored himself on a single up the middle by Matt Wollnik (SR, Naperville, IL/Nequa Valley).
Adam Naliwajko (JR, Mt. Prospect, IL/St. Viator) singled with one out in the second, and Nate Tholl (SO, Tinley Ridge, IL/St. Laurence) followed with a double. Wardlaw singled, scoring Naliwajko, with Tholl taking third. Outlaw sent Tholl home with a sacrifice fly to make it 4-0.
Mike Wick (JR, Bartlett, IL/Bartlet) made it 5-0 with a solo home run that landed on the grass porch in right.
Fleming (JR, Columbia, IL/Columbia) cruised as he scattered six hits and is now 7-0 on the season with the win. He walked none and struck out six as his earned run average fell to 0.48 on the season.
Wick was 2-3 with a home run, RBI, and run scored, and Wardlaw was 2-3 with a double and RBI. Naliwajko was 2-3 with a run scored,
Uhrich took the mound for the Gorloks in
game two. The Gorloks got on the board first with two runs in the thrid. Kyler Kent walked, took second on a ground out, and then took third on a wild pitch. Wardlaw was hit by a pitch, and with two outs, stole second. Uhrich doubled Kent and Wardlaw home for a 2-0 lead. Wollnik singled to center, scoring Uhrich for a 3-0 lead.
Webster added to its lead in the fourth and fifth. Ben Dinter (JR, Gurnee, IL/Warren Township) singled in the fourth, and advance to third on two ground outs. Kent had an infield single to plate Dinter and extended the lead to 4-0. In the fifth, Wardlaw singled, stole second, and scored on a two-out double by Wollnik to make it 5-0.
Uhrich had the complete game shutout, giving up two hits, one walk, and striking out nine as he improves to 7-1 on the year. With the shutout, he lowered his season earned run average to 1.97. At the plate he was 1-3 with a double and two RBIs. Wollnik was 2-3 with a triple and two RBIs.
In between games, eight Seniors were recognized, this being their final home games for the Gorloks. Joe Elfrink (Leopold, MO/Leopold), Matt Goro (Wildwood, MO/Lafayette), Brett Jungles (Naperville, IL/St. Francis), Johnny Lord (Naperville, IL/Nequa Valley), Naliwajko, Brandon Smith (Imperial, MO/Seckman), Uhrich, and Wollnik.
Webster is 18-3 in the SLIAC and 28-10 overall. Fontbonne falls to 12-9 and 17-21,
The Gorloks and Griffins finish the weekend series on May 7 with a single game at Shaw Park in Clayton, MO. The SLIAC Tournament, hosted by Greenville College in Illinoid, starts on May 11.
