SAUGET, Ill. – Webster University saw its offense held to seven hits in a 8-3 setback here late Monday afternoon to sixth-ranked Concordia University Chicago at GSC Credit Union Ballpark.
 
With the setback and Monday's earlier 4-3 loss to Concordia University Texas, the Gorloks fell to 1-2 on the young season. Webster opened the 2018 campaign with a 5-4 win in Sunday's season opener. CUC improved to 2-1 on the season with the victory.
 
 After recording nine hits in their game earlier on Monday against Concordia (Texas), Webster recorded seven singles, including two in the ninth inning, against Concordia (Chicago).
 
Junior second baseman Danny Strohm (St. Louis, Mo./Greenville University) and sophomore first baseman Kyler Kent (Pottsboro, Texas/Pottsboro) combined for five of WU's seven hits as Strohm had three hits and two RBIs, while Kent recorded two hits in the setback.
 
Concordia (Chicago), who opened Monday's activities at GCS with a 2-0 win over Concordia (Texas), jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the second inning against the Gorloks and then plated five runs in the third inning thanks to five hits, including a 2-run single by Matt Fauth off of Gorlok junior starter Adrian Santiago (Chicago, Ill./Oakton College).
 
Trailing 7-0, Webster's bats would wake up in the fourth inning as they three runs off of two hits and an error to pull within 7-3. In the inning, Kent opened with a single, moved to second when sophomore designated hitter Mark Melville (St. Louis, Mo./Northwest Missouri State) was hit by a pitch and scored on a 2-run single by Strohm.  The third Gorlok run came in on a sacrifice fly off the bat of sophomore catcher Joe Swanson (Park Ridge, Ill./Maine West).
 
Webster had a scoring chance in the sixth inning as senior leftfielder Mike Wick (Bartlett, Ill./Bartlett) reached on a one-out single, he moved to second on a stolen base and reached third when Strohm recorded an infield single with two outs. CUC starting pitcher Cody Caballero would prevent any runs from scoring as he forced Swanson to ground into a fielder's choice to end the inning.
 
In the ninth, CUC loaded the bases with one out and would score a run on a wild pitch from Gorlok junior hurler Mike Kogut (Willow Springs, Ill./South Suburban College), before Kogut prevented any other runs from by scoring by forcing Fauth to fly out to end the inning.
 
The Gorloks would put runners on first and second thanks to back-to-back one out singles by Strohm and Swanson, but Cougars reliever Noah Dressler struck out both senior pinch hitter Dakota DeFreitas (Brechin, Ontario/John Wood CC) and Wardlaw to end the game.  Dressler was the fourth pitcher of the game for CUC.
 
Santiago (0-1) took the loss for the Gorloks as he pitched 2.1 innings and allowed seven hits and seven runs, while walking two and striking out one.
 
The best pitching performance for the Gorloks came from freshman Jake Anderson (Bolingbrook, Ill./Bolingbrook), who tossed four hitless and shutout innings and struck out five in his collegiate debut.
 
For the game, Webster's five pitchers allowed just seven hits, walked four and recorded nine strikeouts.
 
Alex Meyers (1-0), who pitched three innings in relief of Caballero, earned the win as he pitched three innings and allowed two hits and struck out four.
 
Brady Roberts had two hits and Fauth finished with 2 RBIs in the win for the Cougars.
 
Webster will return to action this coming Saturday, March 3 as they host North Park University in a 4 p.m. game at GCS Credit Union Ballpark.