SAUGET, Ill. – The 12^th ranked Webster University baseball team was back in action this afternoon when they played host to the Benedictine (Ill.) University Eagles for the final game of the 2022 Webster Classic. The Gorloks defeated the Eagles by a final score of 11-1 in seven innings to improve to 5-1 on the season. With the loss, the Eagles fall to 1-2 on the year.

After two scoreless innings to start the game, Webster was able to get their bats going in the bottom of the third. They scored a run in the bottom of the third, and then rallied for six runs in the bottom of the fourth thanks to a two-run homerun from Malik Wirges, an RBI single from Bryson Rigsby, and a three-run double from Ben Swords to give Webster a 7-0 lead. The Eagles picked up a run in the top of the sixth, but a pinch-hit grand slam from Evan Evola in the bottom of the seventh solidified the win for the Gorloks.

Alek Elges (1-1) was the starting pitcher in this one as he allowed just two hits while striking out five in 5.1 scoreless innings. J.T. Miller came in to relieve Elges as he allowed one earned run while striking out four in the final 1.2 innings of the game.

The Gorloks put together 12 hits in the contest. Malik Wirges and Ben Swords both recorded multi-hit games as Wirges went 2-for-4 with two RBI and Swords went 2-for-4 with three RBI. In addition, Evan Evola went 1-for-4 with four RBI while A.J. Smith and Matt Staker each added an RBI to round out the top performers for Webster.

Webster will be back on the diamond on Saturday, March 12^th when they travel to Port Charlotte, Florida, to play a doubleheader. The Gorloks will take on the second ranked Marietta (Ohio) College Pioneers and the seventh ranked North Central (Ill.) College Cardinals. The first game will start at 1:30 p.m. EST and the second game will start at 4 p.m. EST.