ELSAH, Ill. - Webster University Baseball extended its winning streak to seven straight games here Tuesday evening as the 20th-ranked Gorloks took both ends of St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference doubleheader at Cheatham Stadium against Principia College at Cheatham Stadium.

The Gorloks opened Tuesday's doubleheader with a 9-3 win in the opener, before scoring a season high 21 runs in posting a 21-4 victory in the nightcap that was halted after seven innings due to the 10-run mercy rule. The 21 runs in the nightcaps were the most scored by the Gorloks in a game since tallying 20 runs in last year's 20-0 home win over Principia on April 17, 2018. 

With the two victories, Webster moves its record to 22-8 overall and 12-3 in the SLIAC, while Principia falls to 7-14 overall and 4-8 in the league. The seven game win streak is the longest of the season for the Gorloks.

In the doubleheader, Webster's offense recorded 26 hits, stole nine bases, drew seven walk and hit seven home runs, including six homers in the nightcap, which is second most in a game in program history. The Gorloks have now scored double digit runs in three of its last four games and is averaging 10.3 runs per game during its current seven game win streak. 

During the current 7-game win streak, Webster is hitting 364 as a team and have recorded 82 hits, scored 72 runs, hit 21 doubles, 10 home runs and is 26-for-30 on stolen bases. In addition, Webster has drawn 33 walks, been hit by 11 pitches and has a team ERA of 2.29.

In Tuesday's opener, Websteer jumped in front 2-0 as they used a hit an a Panther errors to plate two runs. The scoring began with a solo home run by sophomore third baseman Ben Swords (Freeport, Ill./Freeport) and the second run came home when junior All-American first baseman Kyler Kent (Pottsboro, Texas/Pottsboro) reached on an error by Principia leftfielder Blake Lesky.

The Gorloks lead grew to 3-0 in the top of the third inning on an error by Panther catcher Ryan Eisenauer, which allowed Swords to score after he reached on a one-out single to right. 

Junior centerfielder Aron Hopp (Lincoln, Ill./Lincoln College) gave Webster a 4-0 lead on his sacrifice fly to center that scored sophomore shortstop Matt Staker (El Cajon, Calif./Saint Augustine), who had reached on an error by Liam Foster in center.

In the fifth. Webster pushed its lead to 5-0 as they used two hits and another Principia error to plate an unearned run, which was scored by Swords, who struck out, but reached base thanks to an error by Eisenauer.

The Gorloks lead increased to 6-0 in the top of the sixth thanks to a double by senior designated hitter Christian Dahncke (Vienna, Ill./Soitheastern Illinois) and an RBI ground out by Hopp, who had two RBI in the game.

Principia would finally find the scoreboard in the bottom of the sixth thanks to a 3-run homer by Zach Grennie off of junior hurler Dakota Borman (Freeport, Ill./Elgin CC), who earned the start on the mound in the opener. Grennie's homer chased Borman from the game, but sophomore Jake Anderson (Bolingbrook, Ill./Bolingbrook) would then put a runner on base on a single by Jack Adler in place of Borman. The Panthers would eventually load the bases as senior Adrian Santiago (Chicago, Ill./Oakton College) walked two hitters, before he forced Will Adler to line out to end the inning. 

The Gorloks then complete the scoring in the top of the seventh as they added three runs to its lead to take a 9-3 lead. In the inning, Kent brought home the first run on his RBI single to first, while junior catcher Joe Swanson (Park Ridge, Ill./Maine West) brought home the next run on his bunt back to the pitcher and Staker brought home the third run on his RBI single to right. 

In the bottom of the seventh, Santiago would retire the Panthers in order to seal the win and pick up his fifth save of the season. 

Borman (2-1) earned the win as he pitched 5.1 innings and allowed four hits and three runs (two earned runs), while striking out a season high eight and walking none. 

In the opener, Webster had 10 hits, including Swords, Staker, Dahncke and junior leftfielder A.J. Smith (DuQuoin, Ill../DuQuoin) each had two hits in the win. Swords scored four of WU's nine runs and the four runs are tied for second most in school history. 

Principia had five hits, including two hits and 3 RBI by Grennie. 

Chris Stamos (0-3) earned the loss for the Panthers as he tossed 6.1 innings and allowed 10 hits and nine runs (four earned), while walking two and striking out four. 

The Panthers defense finished with five errors in the opener that led to five unearned runs for the Gorloks.

Meanwhile, in the nightcap, Webster jumped in front 2-0 in the top of the first on a 2-run homer by Swords over the wall in left off of Principia starting pitcher Jack Adler. 

The Panthers, though, would come right back and use three hits to plate three runs and take a 3-2 lead. In the inning, Principia scored two of its runs thanks to a double play and a wild pitch by sophomore Andrew Padilla (Burbank, Ill./Reavis), who started on the mound for the Gorloks.

Webster would then score five runs each in both the second and third innings to take a 12-3 lead. In the second, the big hit was a 2-run double by senior second baseman Danny Strohm (St. Louis, Mo./Greenville University), while in the third inning, three of the five runs came on back-to-back home runs by Swords and Smith. Swords's homer was a 2-run shot, while Smith's was solo homer off of Principia reliever Stephen Strong.

The Gorloks added five more runs in the fourth to take a 17-3 lead. In the fourth, Staker drilled a 2-run homer and after Strohm reached on an error and freshman Brandon Dryer (Centennial, Colo./Arapahoe) recorded a pinch hit single, freshman rightfielder Ryan Nourse (Centennial, Colo./Arapahoe) hit a 3-run homer. The homer by Nourse was his first career collegiate home run.

Webster added three more runs in the fifth on a 2-run pinch hit homer by sophomore Kellen Quigley (Bolingbrook, Ill./Bolingbrook) that came one batter after Kent reached on a lead-off double to right. The third run in the inning came home on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Dryer, which plated freshman catcher Zach Goodman (Greenwood Village, Colo./Arapahoe), who was hit by a pitch from Grennie.

The Gorloks plated its final run of the game in the sixth thanks to a walks from Swords and Quigley, a Kent single and a sacrifice fly off the bat of Staker. 

Principia would added its fourth and final run of the game in the bottom of the sixth on a lead-off homer by Sean Hanna off of freshman reliever Alex Foppe (St. Louis, Mo./St. Mary's), who was the fifth of six Gorlok pitchers in the game.

Junior Matt Mulhearn (Chicago Heights, Ill./Marian Catholic), who was named this week's SLIAC/Diamond Sports Pitcher of the Week, pitched 2.1 innings in relief of Padilla to earn the win and improve to 7-1 on the season. Mulhearn allowed just one hit, while walking one and striking out three in his 32 pitch outing. 

On the night, Webster's five relievers combined to allow just three hits and one run, while walking one and fanning two. 

Swords finished the nightcap going 3-for-5 at the plate with four runs scored and 5 RBI, while Kent also had three hits and Strohm added two hits and 2 RBI. Staker finished with 3 RBI and scored three runs in the win.

Principia had six hits in the nightcap, including two hits apiece by Lesky and Strong. 

Adler (1-1) took the loss for the Panthers on the mound as he pitched two innings and allowed five hits and seven runs (five earned), while walking one and striking out none. 

The Gorloks will look to make it extend its win streak to nine straight games as they host Greenville University for a SLISAC doubleheader on Saturday, April 21 at GCS Credit Union Ballpark in Sauget, Ill. The first pitch for Saturday's doubleheader is set for 4 p.m., with the second game to follow about 40 minutes after the conclusion of the first game.