Webster's aggressive baserunning helped the Gorloks extend their stay in Wisconsin. Photo by Ryan Coleman, d3photography.com more photos for this game

By Jim Dixon
D3sports.com

GRAND CHUTE, Wis. -- Isaac Behme pitched a complete game and the Gorloks rediscovered their running game to steal a 5-3 win over Manchester in the 2013 NCAA D-III College World Series.

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Behme allowed two runs on eight hits to give Webster (37-11) another day in Wisconsin. Behme walked two and struck out two.

"An outstanding performance by Isaac," said Webster coach Bill Kurich. "We don't got a chance to play tomorrow if Issac does not step up and give us the opportunity."

"I like to keep my balance with the changeup," said Behme. "In the later innings, I mixed in a little more fastballs and worked in a curveball every one in awhile."

"Their pitcher did a nice job," said Manchester coach Rick Espeset.  "We had some chances but he kept throwing strikes." Corey Marchant added, "He had us a little off balance with his changeup."

It was the running game that sparked the Gorlok offense on Saturday. Webster applied pressure on the Manchester (39-7-1) defense all day.

"It is tough to run when your down six runs like last night," said Kurich. "When the game is close or we are ahead, we have a number of guys who can run. We might no be the biggest team here but thats the way we play. We will be back tomorrow and continue to play our game."

Manchester opened the scoring in the first. Bryce Murphy walked to open the frame and was moved to third on Marchant's single to right center. Jordan Niemann's fielder's choice score Bryce Murphy.

Webster took the lead with a run in the third and two in the fourth. In the third, Webster tied the game on a Cody Stevenson double that drove in Ryan Hall. Taylor Stoup and Mike Rainbolt opened the fourth with a walk and single. Jared Turner was hit by a pitch, loading the bases. Stoup and Rainbolt each scored on successive fielder's choice to put the Gorloks ahead 3-1.

Manchester cut into Webster's lead when Kyle Norris scored on Austin Rieke's single to the left side on the infield.

Webster and Manchester traded runs in the sixth inning. Corey Lasky scored on Alex Kazmierski's single for Webster and Trevor Kimm came home on Norris' sacrifice fly for the Spartans. Cody Stevenson scored an insurance run for Webster in the eighth inning.

"As a leadoff, I need to get on base and manufacture runs," said Stevenson.

Webster's woes on defense continued in their second game. The Gorloks have committed seven errors in the tournament with three more today.

"We still need to make some plays," admitted Kurich. "We gave too many outs and we need to get better defensively. We still have the same pressure on us at noon. We did not come to win a game, steal a world series ball to put in our bag and put on a shelf. We came to win the whole thing."

Webster will play the loser of the Linfield-Southern Maine game in the noon game on Sunday. Manchester ends their season having now lost four straight games in the championship round.

"Our journey started last year at the Marietta regional," said Espeset. "Marietta had to beat us twice and they did. They were the better team but that started our guys believing that they could get here. We had a great year in conference and at the regional we never had a doubt that we could win the regional."

Manchester now says goodbye to ten seniors.

"Our seniors were 39-7 with the most wins we ever had," said Espeset. "We had a few good teams at Manchester and this is one of them. These guys have a baseball IQ. They have a heart and passion."

"I don't know if I can describe how it feels," added Marchant. "We have transformed from teammates to family. Even as freshmen we just grew close. We learned a lot about each other, not just about baseball."

Webster news conference

Manchester news conference