LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Webster University opened up its slate of St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference games here Wednesday afternoon by dropping both ends of a doubleheader to Spalding University at Derby City Field in the SLIAC Game of the Week.

The Gorloks opened the doubleheader by falling 9-3 despite junior leftfielder Adam Lovell (Lafayette, Ind./Saint Joseph's (Ind.) College) going for 4-for-4 at the plate and then fell 6-5 in the nightcap that ended in some controversy when it appeared sophomore pinch hitter Kellen Quigley (Bolingbrook, Ill./Bolingbrook) beat out a throw on his ground ball hit to first base that allowed sophomore third baseman Ben Swords (Freeport, Ill./Freeport) to score the tying run, but the umpire at first base called Quigley out on the play to end the game. 

With the two losses, the sixth-ranked Gorloks fall to 10-5 overall and open 0-2 in league play for the first time since 2003, while Spalding improved to 12-6 overall and 2-0 in the league. The last time Webster opened SLIAC play by losing its first two games came in 2003 when Webster  lost both ends of a doubleheader to Blackburn College on March 22.

In Wednesday's doubleheader, the Gorloks finished with 14 hits and scored eight runs, but saw its pitching staff, which entered the game fourth in NCAA Division III in earned run average at 1.80, allowed 14 earned runs to push its season team ERA to 2.55. The nine runs in Wednesday's opener were the most runs allowed this season by the Gorloks. 

Six of Webster's 14 hits came from Lovell on the day, while junior catcher Joe Swanson (Park Ridge, Ill./Maine West) and junior All-American first baseman Kyler Kent (Pottsboro, Texas/Pottsboro) each had two hits in the doubleheader. 

In the nightcap, Spalding jumped in front 1-0 in the bottom of the first inning thanks to lead off triple from Garrett Wilson and an RBI single by Eric Meyer off of junior hurler Matt Mulhearn (Chicago Heights, Ill./Marian Catholic). 

The Golden Eagles lead grew to 2-0 in the second thanks to a double by Cody Milliner, a Mulhearn wild pitch and a run scoring single by Wilson, who had four hits, two RBi and scored two runs in the nightcap and finished the day 5-for-9 at the plate. 

Webster would get one of those runs back in the top of the third inning as junior centerfielder Aron Hopp (Lincoln, Ill./Lincoln College) led off with a single, moved to third on a double by Lovell and scored on an RBI groundout by redshirt junior rightfielder A.J. Smith (DuQuoin, Ill./DuQuoin). 

Spalding pushed its lead to 3-1 in the bottom of the third thanks to a hit, a stolen base, a wild pitch and a fielder's choice bunt off of Mulhearn, who earned a no-decision as he pitched six innings and allowed 11 hits and four runs (four earned), while striking out seven and walking none. In 32.1 innings this season, Mulhearn has recorded 32 strikeouts and walked just four. 

The Golden Eagles added a fourth run in the sixth on a single by Milliner and an RBI double by Wilson to push in front, 4-1. 

Webster, though, would respond in the top of the seventh as they scored three runs without the benefit of a hit to tie the game at 4. In the inning, sophomore shortstop Matt Staker (El Cajon, Calif./Saint Augustine) was hit by a pitch from Spalding starting pitcher Jack Parisi to open the inning, The hit batsman chased Parisi from the game and reliever Aaron Blake would walk the next hitters to load the bases. The third Golden Eagle pitcher of the inning, Lane Staples, would walk his first batter he faced, Smith, to bring home the first run. The second run came home on a fielder's choice grounder by Kent and on that play, two runs would score as the third run came home on a throwing error by Meyer at shortstop.

Spalding would get that run back in the bottom of the seventh off of junior All-American reliever Shane Donovan (Bartlett, Ill./Bartlett) as the left hander walked the first batter he faced and then allowed a single to right center to be chased from the game. Senior Adrian Santiago (Chicago, Ill./Oakton College) would come in from the bullpen and allowed the go-ahead run to score on a groundout by Harol Matos and then retired the next two batters to keep the lead at 5-4 in favor of the Golden Eagles. 

The Gorloks tied the game in the top of the eighth thanks to a walk, a bunt, an infield single by Staker and an RBI ground out by Hopp. Hopp's ground out scored freshman Jake Breeden (Vienna, Ill./Vienna), who was pinch running for redshirt senior designated Talon Parke (Mesa, Ariz./Saint Joseph's (Ind.) College), who walked to lead off the inning. 

In the bottom of the eighth, Spalding retook the lead thanks a double by Wilson and an RBI single off the bat of Evan Trentman to take a 6-5 lead. 

Webster would put two runners on base in the ninth as Swords walked with one out and moved to second on Kent's single through the right  side off of Hayden Davenport, who was the fifth pitcher of the game for Spalding. Davenport would then get senior second baseman Danny Strohm (St. Louis, Mo./Greenvile University) to fly out for the second out to set up Quigley's pinch hit at bat.

Zach Jones (3-0) earned the win for the Golden Eagles as he pitched one inning and allowed one hit and struck out one. Davenport would pick up his first save after allowed a hit and walking a batter in the ninth.

Santiago (2-2) took the loss for the Gorloks as he pitched the final two-plus innings and allowed two hits and one run, while striking out three and walking none.

Spalding finished the nightcap with 14 hits as along with Wilson's four hits, Meyer and Milliner each added three hits and combined to score four runs in the win. 

Lovell had two of WU's five hits in the nightcap, while Hopp scored two runs. Lovell also stole two bases in the nightcap.

For the game, the two teams left a combined 20 runners on base as Webster stranded 11 and has now left 145 runners on base through the first 15 games, while Spalding left nine runners on base. 

Meanwhile, in Wednesday's opener, Spalding, who was tabbed to win the East Division in the Preseason SLIAC Coaches Poll, hit three home runs and scored eight runs against sophomore Sean Beaver (San Diego, Calif./Scripps Ranch), who entered the game having allowed only six runs and two earned runs on the season. Beaver, who had an 0.70 ERA coming into the game, has now recorded 3.07 ERA on the year with his performance on Wednesday.

Beaver (1-2) tossed 3.2 innings and allowed six hits and eight runs, all of which were earned, while walking four and striking out one. The next three Gorlok pitchers combined to throw 2.1 innings and allowed just three hits and one unearned run, while fanning two and walking none. 

In the opener, Quenton Brownlee led off the second with a home run over the wall in left to give Spalding a 1-0 lead. The Golden Eagles would add another run later in the inning on an RBI double by Bryce Spalding.

Webster would get one of those runs back in top of the third inning thanks to a sacrifice fly off the bat of Smith. Smith's fly ball scored Staker, who had walked earlier in the inning, moved to second on a fielder's choice by Hopp and third on a single by Lovell. 

The Golden Eagles pushed its lead to 6-1 in the bottom of the third thanks to scoring a run on a wild pitch by Beaver and then adding three runs on a 3-run homer by Zane Baker. 

Spalding's lead grew to 8-1 in the fourth inning thanks to lead off homer by Spalding and an RBI double by Meyer off of sophomore relief pitcher Andew Padilla (Burbank, Ill./Reavis). 

In the fifth inning, the Gorloks put two runners on base with one out thanks to a walk and a single by Lovell, but Dillon Sievert would retire the next two Gorloks in order to end the inning with two runners on base.

Spalding added its ninth and final run in the bottom of the fifth as they used two singles and a passed ball by Swanson to place its ninth run and take a 9-1 lead. 

Webster completed the scoring in the top of the sixth thanks to a 2-run homer by Parke off of Sievert. The homer by Parke was the second on his Webster career and fifth of the season for the Gorloks. 

Sievert (2-0) pitched all seven innings and allowed nine hits and three runs, while walking two and fanning seven. 

Lovell paced Webster with a 4-for-4 effort at the plate, while Swanson added two hits and WU finished the opener with nine hits. 

Spalding also had nine hits in the opener as Spalding and Baker each had two hits and combined for five RBI. 

The two teams left a total of 12 runners on base as Webster stranded seven and the Golden Eagles left five on base.

Webster will look to return to win column this coming weekend as they host a three-game SLIAC series at GCS Credit Union Ballpark in Sauget, Ill., against Eureka College. The two teams will open the series with a single game on Saturday, March 23 at 3 p.m., before playing a doubleheader on Sunday, March 24 beginning at 1 p.m.