O'FALLON, Mo. - The top-seeded Webster University baseball team opened the 2026 SLIAC Baseball Tournament with a semifinal game against #5 Westminster College Thursday evening at CarShield Field. The Gorloks recorded a five-run first inning, added a run in the third, and defeated the Blue Jays 6-5 to advance to the winner's bracket. WU's
Carter Hunt tied his career high of 11 strikeouts while
Ethan Wielt and
Talan Hutchings recorded two RBI's each.
The Blue Jays opened the game with a triple, walk, and a RBI groundout for the 1-0 lead. Following a flyout, Westminster made the score 3-0 with a two-run homerun. Hunt got out of the inning with his first strikeout of the game.
In the bottom of the first, James Theodore led off and reached base on an error by Westminster. Adam Moser followed up with a bunt single then Theodore and Moser executed the double steal that put runners in scoring position. With no outs, Groves started the five-run inning with an RBI single to first that made the score 1-3. With one out, Reid Hietpas laced an RBI single to left that scored Moser that made the score 2-3. With two outs, Ethan Wielt ripped an RBI single to right center that scored Groves and tied the game at 3-3. With runners on the corners, Hietpas scored on a wild pitch that put the Gorloks on top at 4-3. With Wielt on second, Talan Hutchings belted an RBI double to left that scored Wielt and increased the lead to 5-3.
In the second, Hunt sent down the Blue Jays in order that included three strikeouts. In the bottom half, Theodore led off with a single to left then stole second and third but was left stranded that kept the lead at 5-3.
In the third, Hunt recorded his second consecutive with two groundouts and a looking strikeout. In the bottom frame, Hieptas led off with a single to left center and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Ryan Hartz. With one out, Wielt laced an RBI single to left that scored Hietpas for the 6-3 lead.
In the fourth, Hunt sent down the Blue Jays in order with a popout to second and back-to-back strikeouts.
In the fifth, Hunt worked out of a lead off single with two strikeouts and groundout. In the bottom half, Hartz and Wielt recorded two-out singles but were both left stranded.
In the sixth, Hunt recorded his fifth consecutive scoreless inning with two groundouts and a strikeout. In the bottom frame, Charlie Pellicer had a leadoff single and advanced to second on a wild pitch but was left stranded.
In the top of the seventh, Westminster recorded a ground-rule double and got a runner on base by an error by Webster that set up an RBI single to right that made the score 6-4. Webster then made a pitching change to Wes Carter as he got out of the inning with a foul out to left and a popout to short.
In the top of the eighth, Westminster recorded three consecutive singles that loaded the bases. With no outs, the Blue Jays added a run on a sacrifice flyout that made the score 6-5. Carter got out of the jam with a groundout and a popout to second.
In the top of the ninth, Carter shut the door and sent down the Blue Jays in order with a flyout, a popout, and strikeout that earned the save.
For the game, Hunt pitched 6.1 innings and tied his career-high of 11 strikeouts. Wielt: 3-for-4 with two RBI's while Hutchings went 2-for-4 with two RBI's. Hietpas had a three-hit performance and an RBI while Groves had one hit and an RBI.
The Gorloks will continue tournament play on May 8th with a decision against Lyon College at 2:30PM in O'Fallon, Missouri.
