ggg
Brian Lovellette
9
Winner Webster WEBSTER 31-14
5
Wittenberg WITTENBE 31-12
Winner
Webster WEBSTER
31-14
9
Final
5
Wittenberg WITTENBE
31-12
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Webster WEBSTER 0 0 0 0 1 1 4 3 0 9 15 1
Wittenberg WITTENBE 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 1 5 9 1

W: Greifelt, Ryan (8-3) L: Andrew Rust (7-1)

Game Recap: Baseball | | Kyle Jones

Greifelt’s 10 Strikeouts and Gorloks Late Inning Runs Upset #13 Wittenberg 9-5 In Regionals

ADRIAN, Mich. - The Webster University baseball team opened postseason play at the 2026 NCAA Division III Baseball Regional with a matchup against 13th-ranked Wittenberg University. The Gorloks erased a one-run deficit and tied the game in the fifth, took the lead in the sixth, scored four runs in the seventh, and three runs in the eighth that upset the #13 ranked Tigers by the score of 9-5 in the opening game of the 2026 NCAA Div. III Baseball Regional. With the victory, Webster advances to play DePauw University tomorrow. 

Webster opened this neutral site decision with the bats as James Theodore led off with a single up the middle but got out on a 5-4-3 doubleplay. The Gorloks did not score a run in the first inning. 

Left-handed ace of the program, Ryan Greifelt earned the start on the mound and struckout the first batter he faced. Moments later, Wittenberg recorded a walk and a single to right center that put runners on the corners. With one and runners on the corners, the Tigers took the early 1-0 lead with a sacrifice flyout to Theodore in center. 

In the second, Reid Hietpas reached base on a one-out hit-by-pitch but was left stranded. In the bottom half, Wittenberg recorded a leadoff double down the right field line but Greifelt got out of the inning unscaved with a groundout and back-to-back strikeouts. 

In the top of the third, Charlie Pellicer laced a one-out single to left and advanced to third on a single to center by Adam Moser. With runners on the corners, Pellicer was caught stealing home on a 2-5-2 putout that ended the inning. In the bottom frame, Greifelt recorded his second consecutive shutout inning with a flyout and two strikeouts that kept the one-run deficit. 

In the fourth, both teams did not score a run as Greifelt sent down the Tigers in order with a groundout, a strikeout, and a popout to second. 

In the top of the fifth, Ethan Wielt led off with a double to right center then Talan Hutchings followed up with a walk. With two runs on, Pellicer advanced both runners 90 on a sacrifice bunt. With one out, Theodore tied the game at 1-1 with an RBI groundout to second. In the bottom frame, Greifelt sent down the Tigers in order with a strikeout, a flyout, and a popout to third.

In the top of the sixth, Dalton Groves led off with a single to right center and advanced to second on a single to center by Ryan Hartz. With two outs, Wielt put the Gorloks on top at 2-1 with an RBI single to left that scored Groves. In the bottom half, Greifelt recorded a shutout inning with two flyouts and a strikeout that kept the lead at 2-1. 

In the top of the seventh, Pellicer led off with a single through the left side and advanced to second on a single to center by Theodore. With two runners on, Moser laid down a sacrifice bunt and reached base on an error by Wittenberg's second baseman that loaded the bases. With the bases loaded, Groves was hit-by-the-pitch which scored Pellicer for the 3-1 lead. With the bases still loaded, Nick Wrubluski extended the lead to 4-1 with a sacrifice flyout to center that scored Theodore. With a runner on third and one out, Hietpas laced an RBI single through the right side that scored Moser and made the score 5-1. With two out, Wielt reached base on a hit-by-pitch that loaded the bases. With the bases loaded, Groves scored on a wild pitch that increased the lead to 6-1. 

In the bottom of the seventh, Wittenberg recorded a lead off single to left and a walk. With two outs, the Tigers made the score 3-1 with a two-run triple down the right field line. Greifelt got out of the inning with a groundout to first. 

In the top of the eighth, Theodore led off with a single to right and advanced to second on a hit-by-pitch taken by Moser. With two runners on, Groves laid down a sacrifice bunt that advanced both runners 90 feet. With one out, Wrubluski ripped a two-run double to right which increased the lead to 8-3. Wrubluski then advanced to third on a wild pitch and then scored on an RBI single to center by Hietpas which made the score 9-3. 

In the bottom of the eighth, Greifelt fanned the first batter he faced then allowed a double down the right field line. With two outs and a runner on third, Wittenberg added an RBI double to left center that made the score 9-4. Following that run, Webster made a pitching change to Wes Carter as he recorded the final out of the inning with a popout to shortstop. 

In the top of the ninth, Wielt led off with a walk and advanced to third on a double to right center by Theodore. However, both runners were left stranded. 

In the bottom of the ninth, Wittenberg recorded a leadoff single to right and a walk that put two runners on base. With two runners on, Carter got the batter to roll into a doubleplay by Pellicer at shortstop. With a runner on third and two outs, the Tigers added their final run of the game with an RBI single up the middle that made the score 9-5. Carter got the final out of the game with a popout to third.

For the game, Greifelt pitched 7.2 innings and tied his season-high of 10 strikeouts. Carter closed out the final 1.1 innings and allowed one run. Theodore went 4-for-6 with two runs and an RBI while Wrubluski went 1-for-4 with three RBI's. Hietpas went 3-for-4 with two RBI's while Wielt had two hits and an RBI. 

The Gorloks will play the Tigers of DePauw University in the winners bracket game at 2:30PM at Adrian College. 

To see the postgame interview with Head Coach Bill Kurich, Greifelt, and Theodore, please see link below
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MF9xgjYHUb0
 
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