SAUGET, Ill. - Webster University opened the home portion of its St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference schedule here Saturday by sweeping a doubleheader against Eureka College at GCS Credit Union Ballpark.

In Saturday's opener, the sixth-ranked Gorloks used a two-run fifth inning to turn a 2-1 lead into a 4-1 lead en route to posting a 4-2 win, before senior rightfielder Nate Tholl (Tinley Park, Ill./John A. Logan CC) drove home a career high four runs and had three hits in picking up a 10-0 win in the nightcap that was halted in the seventh inning due to the 10-run rule.

With the two wins, Webster improves to 12-5 overall and 2-2 in the SLIAC, while Eureka falls to 4-7 overall and 0-2 in the league. The two wins also snapped a two game losing streak for the Gorloks and extended its home win streak to five straight games.

For the doubleheader, Webster's offense recorded 24 hits, including recording a season high 17 hits in the nightcap and scored 14 runs and had six extra base hits, including two doubles in the opener by sophomore third baseman Ben Swords (Freeport, Ill./Freeport) and a 3-run homer in the seventh inning of the nightcap by Tholl. 

Swords finished the doubleheader with five hits and 4 RBI, while Tholl and junior centerfielder Aron Hopp (Lincoln, Ill./Lincoln College) each had three hits on the day.

In the opener, Eureka jumped in front 1-0 in the top of the first as Sean Green hit the first pitch of the game from freshman Brendan May (St. Louis, Mo./Vianney) for a home run over the wall in right center. 

The Gorloks tied the game in the bottom of the first as redshirt junior leftfielder A.J. Smith (DuQuoin, Ill./DuQuoin) was hit by a pitch, stole second and scored on an RBI double by Swords off of Eureka starting pitcher Joe Quinn.

Eureka had a scoring chance in the third inning as they loaded the bases thanks to two hits and walk, before sophomore Jake Anderson (Bolingbrook, Ill./Bolingbrook) came into the game out of the bullpen and got out of the jam by forcing Quinn to ground out to end the inning.

Webster's lead grew to 2-1 in the bottom of the third as they used two walks, a bunt single, a stolen base and an RBI single by Swords to plate the second run of the game.

The Gorloks lead grew to 4-1 in the fifth inning thanks to an RBI double by Swords and an RBI single by junior All-American first baseman Kyler Kent (Pottsboro, Texas/Pottsboro).

Eureka pulled within 4-2 in the top of the sixth as Quinn drilled an Anderson pitch down the right field line for a home run. The homer was the second of the game for the Red Devils.

In the bottom of the sixth, Webster loaded the bases with one out thanks to drawing three walk. The third walk brought Brandon Port from the Red Devils bullpen into the game and he get out of the bases loaded jam by forcing Tholl to hit into a 6-3 double play. 

Eureka would two of its first hitters on base in the top of the seventh thanks to a hit batsman and walk, before senior reliever Adrian Santiago (Chicago, Ill./Oakton College) retired the next two hitters in order to preserve WU's win and pick up his fourth save of the season.

Anderson (1-0) earned the win as he pitched three innings and allowed two hits and one run, while striking out three and walking none. May would pitch the first 2.2 innings and allowed four hits and one run, but struggled with his control as he walked three and struck out three.

Quinn (0-2) took the loss for the Red Devils as he pitched 4.2 innings and allowed seven hits and four runs, while walking three and fanning none. 

Eureka had six hits in the game and left 10 runners on base.

The Gorloks had seven hits, including a 3-for-3 effort at the plate with 3 RBI by Swords, while Hopp added two hits and stole his 11th base of the season.   

Meanwhile, in the nightcap, Webster used five hits and scored three runs in the bottom of the second to take a 3-0 lead. The first run came home on an RBI double by junior catcher Joe Swanson (Park Ridge, Ill./Maine West), while the second run was brought home by sophomore shortstop Matt Staker (El Cajon, Calif./Saint Augustine) and Tholl brought home the third run on an RBI single to right. 

The three runs would be more than enough for junior hurler Dakota Borman (Freeport, Ill./Highland CC) as he pitched the first five innings as he scattered three hits and didn't allow a run, while walking two and striking out seven. Borman picked up his first career collegiate win in the nightcap. 

In the fifth, Webster plated a fourth run as Swanson brought home Swords on his RBI single to left center. Swords had opened the inning with a single to right off of Gregory Clus (2-1), the Red Devils' starting pitcher. 

The Gorloks added two more runs in the sixth to push in front 6-0. In the inning, Tholl reached on an error to open the inning, stole second, moved to third on a groundout by Smith and scored on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Swords. Freshman Brandon Dryer (Centennial, Colo./Arapahoe) would then bring home the second run of the inning on his pinch hit double to right center.

Webster would end the game early in the bottom of the seventh as they scored four runs, including three on Tholl's 3-run homer and added the fourth run on a pinch hit RBI double by redshirt senior Talon Parke (Mesa, Ariz./Saint Joseph's (Ind.) College). Parke's double ended the game. 

Redshirt freshman Joey Marko (Winfield, Mo./Winfield) would pitch the final two innings as he walked two, but did not allow a hit or a run. 

Clus took the loss on the mound for the Red Devils as he pitched 4.1 innings and allowed 11 hits and four runs, while striking out two and walking none.

Tholl went 3-for-5 with two runs scored and 4 RBI in the nightcap, while Swords, Kent and Swanson each had two hits and combined to score three runs. 

In the game, Webster left 12 runners on base and turned two double plays to push its season total to 19. Eureka left eight runners on base and committed two errors.

Green had two of EC's three hits in the nightcap.

The two teams will conclude the three-game series with a nine inning contest on Sunday, March 24 beginning at 12 p.m. at GCS Ballpark.