R.J. LaRocco
Copyright 2024 Pictarus
3
North Park NORTH PA 0-6
12
Winner Webster WEBSTER 5-3
North Park NORTH PA
0-6
3
Final
12
Webster WEBSTER
5-3
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
North Park NORTH PA 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 3 11 0
Webster WEBSTER 0 4 2 1 0 0 5 0 X 12 11 1

W: Rompala-Matthews, Elijah (1-2) L: J. Nuese (1-1)

Game Recap: Baseball | | Kyle Jones

Gorloks Secured Home-Opening Weekend Sweep With Victory Over North Park

SAUGET, Ill. - The Webster University baseball team closed out home-opening weekend with a rematch decision against North Park University Sunday evening at Grizzlies Ballpark. The Gorloks scored four runs in the second and added a five-run inning in the seventh that secured the 12-3 victory over the Vikings. With the victory, Webster improves to 5-3 overall on the season.

The Chicago native in Elijah Rompala-Matthews earned his third straight of the season on the mound and worked out of a first inning bases-loaded jam for a scoreless inning. In the top of the second, the Vikings got two runners on base but Rompala-Matthews got out of the inning with two pops out in the infield for his second scoreless inning of the game. 

In the bottom of the second, Ethan Wielt got the inning started with a two-out hit-by-pitch. Moments later, the Gorloks loaded the bases with back-to-back bunt singles by Ben Stedman and Charlie Pellicer. With the bases juiced, Karl Peters ripped a two-run single to left that scored Wielt and Stedman for the 2-0 advantage. The next batter in James Theodore, followed suit and laced a rbi single to right that scored Pellicer for the 3-0 lead. With runners on the corners, the Gorloks executed the double-steal attempt to perfection as Peters scored that extended the lead to 4-0. 

In the top of the third, Rompala-Matthews struck out the first batter he saw that ended his outing. Webster made their first pitching change of the game and called upon right-hander Wes Carter. Carter got out of the inning with a 6-4-3 double-play that kept the Vikings off the scoreboard. In the bottom frame, WU's Dalton Groves got the inning started with a two-out single to center. Moments later, Wielt launched a two-run home run over the right field wall that extended the Gorlok lead to 6-0. 

In the top of the fourth, North Park got a run back with a lead off solo home run from Nate Sommerfeld. After a single issued by Carter, Webster called upon Zach Mevert out of the bullpen. Mevert got out of the inning without allowing a run that kept the game at 6-1. In the bottom half, Pellicer led off the inning with a single to left when Peters followed up with an infield single that allowed Pellicer to advance in scoring position. WU's Cullen McBride reached base on a hit-by-pitch that loaded the bases. Following a pitching change by the Vikings, R.J. LaRocco drew a walk that scored Pellicer that stretched the lead to 7-1. 

In the top of the fifth, North Park got two runners on after a walk and single. Moments later, the Vikings pulled the double-steal play as the throw from Groves trickled into short left field that allowed a run to score that made the score 7-2. In the top of the sixth, Webster called upon right-hander Joel Arsenault of the bullpen as he recorded a scoreless inning that included two strikeouts. 

In the bottom of the seventh, the Gorloks erupted for a five-run inning that started on a bases-loaded walk drawn by Theodore that scored Ryan Hartz. The batter in Evan Evola reached base on a hit-by-pitch that allowed Stedman to score for the 9-3. With the bases still loaded, McBride drew a walk that scored Peters for the 10-3 advantage. The Gorloks capped off the scoring for the inning on a rbi by LaRocco and a wild pitch that scored Evola that stretched the lead to 12-3.

In the top of the eighth, Webster called upon reliever Bauer Dalke as he recorded a scoreless inning that ended in a 6-4-3 double-play. In the top of the ninth, Webster made their final pitching change of the game and called up Drew Koenig as he shut the door for the game that included a strikeout. 

For the game, Wielt went 3-for-3 that included a two-run homr runs and scored twice. In addition, Peters, Theodore, and LaRocco recorded two rbis each. On the mound, Webster used six different pitchers as Arsenault led all pitchers with three strikeouts. 

The Gorloks will travel to the sunshine state for spring break and open play on Friday, March 7 with a decision against Grove City College at 3:45pm (eastern) in Davenport, Florida. 
 
Print Friendly Version