SAUGET, Ill. - Webster University Baseball rode a complete game pitching performance from fifth-year senior All-American Matt Mulhearn (Chicago Heights, Ill./Marian Catholic) and a 2-run single in the bottom of the eighth from fifth-year senior second baseman A.J. Smith (DuQuoin, Ill./DuQuoin) to post a 4-3 come-from-behind win over No. 2 seeded Spalding University in the first game of the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Champipnship Series at GCS Credit Union Ballpark.

Smith's two-run single gave the Gorloks a 4-3 lead in the bottom of the eighth after Spalding had taken a 3-2 lead in the sixth on an RBI single by Marcus Collins off of Mulhearn. Mulhearn, who threw 156 pitches, including 112 strikes and 44 balls, allowed a season high 12 hits and tied a season high by allowing three runs in picking up his 11th win and improving to 11-1 on the year.

Following Smith's 2-run in the eighth, Mulhearn would work around a single in the top of the ninth and ended the game by forcing Dryden Schroeder to hit into a fielder's choice to seal Webster's 34th win of the season. 

With the win, Webster improved to 34-6 overall, while Spalding fell to 29-14 overall. The two teams played a second game Friday in the championship series that began at 8:15 p.m.

In his complete game win, Mulhearn allowed 12 hits and three runs, while walking a season high three and striking out nine. The nine strikeouts pushed Mulhearn within one strikeout of the SLIAC single season record of 127 strikeouts set by Fontbonne's Luke Summers in 2019. 

The Gorloks jumped in front 2-0 in the bottom of the second as fourth-year junior All-American shortstop Ben Swords (Freeport, Ill./Freeport) walked to open the inning, moved to second on the ground out by Smith and after third-year sophomore catcher Zach Goodman (Greenwood Village, Colo./Arapahoe) was hit by a pitch to put two runners on base, second-year freshman designated hitter Landon Vahle (Lee's Summit, Mo./St. Michael Archangel) drilled a 3-2 pitch from Jack Parisi to the wall in left center for a 2-run triple. 

Spalding would tie the game in the top of the fifth on two hits, a throwing error by freshman leftfielder R.J. LaRocco (San Diego, Calif./Point Loma) and two walks issued by Mulhearn.

The Golden Eagles took the lead in the sixth on Collins's run scoring single off of Mulhearn.

In the bottom of the sixth, Webster put two runners on base thanks to a lead-off double by LaRocco and a single by Swords, but Parisi got out of the jam to keep the Golden Eagles in the lead.

Fourth-year junior rightfielder Adam Lovell (Lafayette, Ind./Saint Joseph's College) opened the eighth with a single up the middle, moved to second on a single by LaRocco and both runners advanced a base on a bunt by fifth-year senior All-American first baseman Kyler Kent (Pottsboro, Texas/Pottsboro). Following the bunt, Swords was intentionally walked by Zach Vogt to load the bases to set up Smith's go-ahead 2-run single. 

The Gorloks were outhit for the game, 12-7, as LaRocco led the way with tow hits, while Smith and Vahle each had two RBI in hte win. Evan Trentmen went 4-for-4 for Spalding, while Schroeder went 3-for-5 and Collins was 2-for-4 for the Golden Eagles in the loss.

Parisi went six innings and allowed four hits and two runs, while walking four and striking out five in earning the no-decision. Vogt (3-3) took the loss for Spalding as he pitched two innings and allowed three hits and two runs, while walking one and striking out two. 

The teams combined to leave 16 runners on base as Spalding stranded 10 and Webster left six on base.