SAUGET, Ill. - Webster University continued its hot play here Saturday evening as the 22nd-ranked Gorloks took both ends of a St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference doubleheader against MacMurray College at GCS Credit Union Ballpark.

Webster opened Saturday's doubleheader with a 5-3 win, before using a season high 11 strikeouts from senior pitcher C.J. Lee (Aurora, Ill./Waubonsie Valley) and a combined seven hits and five RBIs from its 3-4-5 hitters in earning an 8-2 win in the nightcap. 

With the two victories, Webster extends its win streak to nine straight games and improves its record to 23-7 overall and 13-2 in the SLIAC, while MacMurray fell to 13-19 overall and 7-9 in the SLIAC.

In the two games, the Gorloks combined for 20 hits, including sophomore first baseman Kyler Kent (Pottsboro, Texas/Pottsboro) went 5-for-7 with three runs scored and 3 RBIs, including hitting his fifth home run in the sixth inning of the nightcap. In addition to Kent, freshman third baseman Ben Swords (Freeport, Ill./Freeport) went 3-for-7 in the doubleheader, including going 2-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI in the nightcap and senior designated hitter Ben Dinter (Gurnee, Ill./College of Lake County) went 2-for-6, including going 2-for-5 with 2 RBIs in the nightcap. 

In Saturday's opener, the Gorloks jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning on an RBI single to right by Kent. Kent's single brought home senior leftfielder Mick Wick (Bartlett, Ill./Bartlett), who walked to lead off the inning and then stole second a little later in the inning. 
 
Webster's lead grew to 2-0 in the second inning thanks to a single, a hit batsman, a passed ball and an RBI on a fielder's choice off the bat of Wick. 
 
The Highlanders would drop Webster's lead to 2-1 in the third inning thanks to a throwing error by Gorlok junior second baseman Danny Strohm (St. Louis, Mo./Greenville University) on a fielder's choice by Brett Mammenga.
 
Webster scored two runs in the bottom of third inning to push its lead to 4-1. In the inning, Dinter walked to open the frame, moved to second on a single by Kent and advanced to third on a single by Swords. The next Gorlok hitter, sophomore catcher Joe Swanson (Park Ridge, Ill./Maine West) brought home the first run on his RBI groundout and senior centerfielder Conner Wardlaw (Arnold, Mo./Jefferson College) would follow with an RBI single plating the fourth run of the game
 
In the top of the fourth inning, Webster sophomore hurler Matt Mulhearn (Chicago Heights, Ill./Marian Catholic) pitched himself out of a jam as he struck out Nick Balkenbusch to leave the bases loaded. 

The Highlanders would pull within 4-2 in the top of the sixth inning as they loaded the bases on a walk and two singles and would score a run on a double play grounder off the bat of Chris Williams. 

Webster, though, would get that run back in the bottom of the sixth as they took advantage of an error and used two hits to score a run to push in front 5-2. In the inning, Swanson reached on a throwing error by MacMurray shortstop Nick Balkenbusch and advanced to second on the play. The next hitter, Wardlaw reached on a bunt single that put runners on first and third with no outs. The ensuing Gorlok hitter, junior second baseman Danny Strohm (St. Louis, Mo./Greenville University) put down a bunt and on the play, Swanson was out at home for the first out. After freshman shortstop Matt Staker (El Cajon, Calif./Saint Augustine) hit an infield fly for the second out, Wick followed with an RBI single to right.

MacMurray would add a run in the seventh on a double and back-to-back ground outs, before sophomore Shane Donovan (Bartlett, Ill./Bartlett), who relieved Mulhearn in the sixth, ended the game with another ground out to preserve his third save of the season.

Mulhearn picked up the win as he improved to 6-2 as he tossed five-plus innings and allowed seven hits and two runs (one earned), while walking two and striking out six. Donovan allowed three hits and a run, while walking and striking out none. 

Trevor Knipe (6-3) pitched all six innings for the Highlanders as he allowed seven hits and five runs (four earned runs), while walking four and striking out two. 

Kent and Wardlaw had two hits apiece for the Gorloks in the opener. 

Alec Taylor had three hits and Brandon Schanz added two hits for the Highlanders. 

In the nightcap, Webster jumped in front 3-0 in the bottom of the second thanks to three hits and an error. In the inning, Kent and Swords each recorded back-to-back ground ruled doubles to score the first run. Swords would move to third on a bunt by Swanson and after Wardlaw walked to put runners on first and third, Wardlaw would advance to second on a failed pickoff attempt by MacMurray pitcher Ryan Bradley and on the play, Swords would score the second run of the inning. Strohm brought home the third run on his single through the right side. 

The Gorloks pushed in front 4-0 in the bottom of the third thanks to three singles, including an RBI single by Wardlaw.

Webster's lead grew to 6-0 in the fourth inning on a 2-run single up the middle by Dinter. Dinter's single brought home both Staker, who reached on a one-out single to left center and Wick, who hit a ground rule double to right. 

Through the first four innings, Lee was cruising as he had allowed just two hits and three base runners, while recording seven strikeouts. 

The Highlanders, though, would finally get to Lee in the fifth inning as they used three hits and a Webster fielding error by Swords at third. The first run came home on a sacrifice fly by Nick Balkenbusch and Schanz would follow with an RBI single through the right side. 

Webster would add two more runs in the sixth on Kent's 2-run homer over the wall in right center off of MacMurray reliever Collin Hopkins. 

Neither team would put runners on base until the ninth inning as Nathan Luft reached on a one-out single off of senior reliever Dakota DeFreitas (Brechin, Ontario/John Wood CC), before DeFreitas got out of the jam by retiring the final two Highlanders on ground balls. 

Lee (5-2) earned the win as he pitched seven innings and allowed seven hits and two runs (one earned), while walking none and fanning 11 in his 113 pitch outing. On the night, Webster recorded a season high 13 strikeouts. 

Bradley (1-1) took the loss for MacMurray as he tossed 3.1 innings and allowed eight hits and six runs, while walking one and striking out three. 

In the nightcap, Kent had three hits, while Dinter and Swords each had two hits in the win. 

Schanz and Luft had two hits apiece for MacMurray.

The Gorloks will look to extend its win streak to 10 consecutive games on Sunday, April 22 as they travel to Greencastle, Ind., for a non-conference game against DePauw University. The game is scheduled for a 2 p.m. CT start.