SAUGET, Ill. - Webster University recorded 21 hits and took advantage of eight Greenville errors here Saturday to score 24 runs en route to sweeping a St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference doubleheader against the Panthers at GCS Credit Union Ballpark.

The 20th-ranked Gorloks opened Saturday's doubleheader with an 8-2 win behind a complete game performance on the mound by junior hurler Matt Mulhearn (Chicago Heights, Ill./Marian Catholic) and five errors by Greenville and then hit three home runs and collected 16 hits in posting a 16-0 win in the nightcap that was halted in the seventh due to the 10-run mercy run.

With the two victories, Webster extended its win streak to nine consecutive games and improved its record to 24-8 overall and 14-3 in the SLIAC, while Greenville fell to 20-12 overall and 12-5 in the SLIAC. 

In the doubleheader, seven Gorloks collected at least two hits, including junior All-American first baseman Kyler Kent going 4-for-7 at the plate with two runs scored, a home run and 4 RBI, while sophomore third baseman Ben Swords (Freeport, Ill./Freeport) and sophomore designated hitter Jake Knoebel (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield East) went a combined 6-for-11 with five runs scored, three doubles and a home run. 

For the doubleheader, Webster hit .389 and had five doubles, three home runs, drew six walks and were hit by five pitches, including junior catcher Joe Swanson (Park Ridge, Ill./Maine West) and senior rightfielder Nate Tholl (Tinley Park, Ill./John A. Logan CC) were each hit by two pitches in the doubleheader. 

Webster jumped in front 4-0 in the bottom of the first inning as they used two hits and two Greenville errors to plate four runs, including three unearned runs. In the inning, junior centerfielder Aron Hopp (Lincoln, Ill./Lincoln College) walked, moved to second on a fielder's choice by Swords that resulted in an error by GU second baseman Matthew Schroeder. Junior leftfielder A.J. Smith (DuQuoin, Ill./DuQuoin) brought home Hopp with the first run on his RBI single through the left side. After a wild pitch put runners on second and third, Kent brought home two runs when he reached on another Schroeder error and Kent would eventually score on an RBI single by Knoebel off of GU starter Jonah Moore.

The four run cushion would more than enough for Mulhearn (8-1), who kept the Panthers off the scoreboard until the fifth inning to snap his scoreless inning streak at 19.2 inning as Mulhearn hadn't allowed a run since the second inning of his start at MacMurray on April 6. 

Mulhearn has won his last four starts as he tossed seven innings against the Panthers and scattered seven hits and allowed two runs, while striking out 10 and walking none in his 103 pitch outing. On the season, Mulhearn has recorded 73 strikeouts and walked eight in 64.2 innings of work. 

The Gorloks offense gave Mulhearn some extra insurance runs in the fourth inning as they scored three runs on two hits and two Greenville errors to take a 7-0 lead. The big hit in the inning was 2-run infield single by Tholl. 

In the fifth, Greenville would break Mulhearn's scoreless innings streak with a double by Schroeder and an RBI single by Zach Cameron and then added another run in the sixth on a double, a single and a sacrifice fly off the bat of Sam Hodges to drop WU's lead to 7-2. 

Webster would complete the scoring in the bottom of the sixth on another Greenville error, this one on a throwing error by Schroeder on a bunt single by senior second baseman Danny Strohm (St. Louis, Mo./Greenville University). 

Moore (3-2) took the loss for Greenville as he pitched six innings and allowed seven hits and eight runs (three earned), while walking one and fanning five. 

Devin Gumb and Ryan Taylor each had two hits for the Panthers. 

Knoebel paced WU's seven hit attack with two hits, while Tholl and Kent each had two RBI.

Meanwhile, in the nightcap, Webster opened the scoring in the bottom of the second as they plated three runs on three hits. Kent opened the inning with a lead-off homer that hit off the Lindenwood-Belleville advertising sign near the scoreboard in right field and after Swanson walked, Knoebel drilled a Logan Murphy pitch over the wall in left center for a 2-run homer. The homer by Kent was his team-leading fourth of the season. 

The Gorloks pushed their lead to 9-0 in the bottom of the fourth as they plated six runs on five hits and one Greenville error. Strohm opened the inning with solo home run over the wall in left and after WU put runners on second and third thanks to an infield hit by Hopp and a double by Tholl, Swords brought home the second run on a sacrifice fly to center and after Smith walked, Kent delievered an RBI single to right. The next run came home on a fielding error by Schroeder at second and sophomore shortstop Matt Staker (El Cajon, Calif./Saint Augustine) completed the scoring in the inning with his 2-run single up the middle off of Sam Alender, who replaced Murphy on the mound after he allowed Strohm's lead-off homer.

WU's nine runs would be enough for sophomore Sean Beaver (San Diego, Calif./Scripps Ranch) and two Gorlok relievers as they combined to allow just four hits, while walking two and fanning six in tossing just their fifth shutout of the season. 

Beaver (4-3) pitched 5.1 innings and allowed three hits and no runs, while walking one and fanning five. 

The Gorloks lead grew to 11-0 in the fifth as they scored two runs without the benefit of a hit thanks to three walks, a hit by pitch and a double play grounder.

Webster's pushed its lead to 16-0 in the bottom of the sixth as they plated five runs on three hits and a Greenville error. In the inning, freshman rightfielder Brandon Dryer (Centennial, Colo./Arapahoe) brought home two runs on his 2-run double to left center and after Tholl was hit by a pitch, Swords drilled a 2-run double to the wall in deep center and the fifth and final run of the inning came home on an RBI groundout by freshman pinch hitter Austin Jisa (Lincoln, Neb./Southeast).

Senior Adrian Santiago (Chicago, Ill./Oakton College) would complete the shutout by retiring the Panthers in order in the top of the seventh inning.

Kent had three hits and 2 RBI in the nightcap, while Swords went 3-for-3 with 3 RBI. Staker and Hopp each had two hits for the Gorloks. In the nightcap, Webster collected seven extra base hits, including hitting three home runs. 

Tholl scored three runs, while Dryer, Swanson and Knoebel each scored two runs in rhe nightcap. 

Murphy (5-3) took the loss for the Panthers as he pitched three-plus innings and allowed seven hits and four runs (four earned), while striking out two and walking one. 

Gumb had two of Greenville's four hits in the loss. 

Greenville committed three errors in the nightcap that led to four unearned runs by the Gorloks. 

The Gorloks will look to make its 10 consecutive victories this coming Thursday, April 25 as they travel down Big Bend Blvd. for a 3 p.m. non-conference game at 14th-ranked WashU in Clayton, Mo.