Gorloks Cement Hold on SLIAC Lead

Team defeats Spaulding 4-3 during Easter Weekend game

ST. LOUIS (APRIL 20, 2014) - The #2 ranked Webster University baseball team completed the sweep of a three game series vs. Spalding University (KY) with a 4-3 win at GCS Ballpark, on April 20.  The Gorloks lost a 3-0 lead entering the eighth inning but regained it in the bottom half of the inning, and withstood some ninth inning excitement to hold on for the victory.Freshman C.J. Lee (Aurora, IL/Waubonsie Valley HS), making his fourth start of the season, threw seven shutout innings, giving up four hits and two walks, while striking out eight.  Lee has struck out 42 batters in 31 2/3 innings on the season.

Lee turned the game over to Dylan Dean Smith (SR, Albion, IL/ Edwards County HS) for the eighth inning and the Gorloks up 3-0.  Smith, one of the Gorloks' most reliable pitchers, gave up three straight singles to the Golden Eagles to start the top of the eighth, with all three coming around to tie it up at 3-3.

The Gorloks regained the lead in the bottom half of the eighth when Jeff Kammer walked with one out and pinch runner Brett Buchanan (SR, Villa Park, IL/Willowbrook HS) swiped second.  After Charlie Gandolfi was hit by a pitch, he and Kammer moved up on a force at first.  Ian Foege drove in Buchanan for the go ahead run with a single.

Closer Jason Gray (SR, St. Louis, MO/Eureka HS) was called on to finish up Webster.  Gray hit the first batter he faced, and a sac bunt and stolen base later had the tying run at third with one down.  After another hit batter, Gray was replaced by freshman Matt Goro (Wildwood, MO/Lafayette HS), who struck out the final two batters to pick up his first save for the Gorloks.

Smith had the good fortune to pick up his sixth win with the comeback, and is 6-0 on the season.

Webster took a 2-0 lead in the fourth when Kammer (JR, Chesterfield, MO/Lafayette HS) doubled and  Gandolfi (JR, Mundelein, IL/Mundelein HS) reached on a bunt single, Kammer taking third.  Kammer was thrown out at home on a grounder to third by Kevin Kojs (SR, New Lenox, IL/Lincoln Way Central HS).

With two out, Gandolfi took third on a wild pitch and when Kojs stole second base, he scored on an error by the Spalding catcher.  Freshman Matt Wollnik (Naperville, IL/Neuqua Valley HS) then singled Kojs home for a 2-0 lead.

Gandlofi reached on a bunt single to lead off the sixth and after reaching second on a force out, scored on a Foege (SR, Eureka, MO/Eureka HS) single to make it 3-0.

Spalding came into the series 1 1/2 games behind the Gorloks and end the series with Webster firmly in control of first in the SLIAC at 18-0 and a 4 1/2 game lead.  Webster has six games left in SLIAC play.

The Gorloks are 26-4 overall on the season.  Webster hosts Westminster College on April 23 for a 12:00 p.m. doubleheader at GCS Ballpark.