May 21, 2021

Gorloks three-peat

More news about: Webster



The top two seeds in this year's St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference played in the league's first-ever best of three game championship series, starting with a double header on Friday night at GCS Ballpark in Sauget, Illinois. Top-seeded Webster University was willed to a win by pitcher Matt Mulhearn in an epic complete game pitching performance in game one. Game 2 saw the Gorloks bust out for 13 runs on 13 hits with a strong outing from pitcher Jordan Smevoll to clinch the 2021 SLIAC Tournament Title.

Game 1: #1 Webster def. #2 Spalding, 4-3

Matt Mulhearn has been the face of consistency since putting on a Gorlok uniform, recording double digit wins in each of his last three full seasons. On Friday night in Game 1 of the SLIAC Championship Series, he showed grit; pushing through a 156 pitch complete game victory; willing the Gorloks to a come-from-behind win. Spalding was able to knock around Mulhearn, picking up at least one hit in each inning and tagging him for 12 hits total in the game. However, Mulhearn worked around the hits early on by catching the outside edge of the plate and racking up 7 strikeouts in the first 4 innings. 

The Spalding starter had early command issues, walking four in the first 5 innings. In the second inning Webster was able to take adantage of those issues, putting runners on via a walk and hit-by-pitch. Then with two outs Landon Vahle delivered with a two-run triple to put the Gorloks up 2-0. 

Spalding continued to put the stress on the Gorloks and busted through in the 5th inning. Jace Pinkston started the frame with a walk and was followed by a high chopper from Marcus Collins that went for an infield single. Mulhearn got the first out with a strikeout but walked the next batter, loading the bases to set up a showdown between the 2021 SLIAC Pitcher of the Year (Mulhearn) and 2021 SLIAC Player of the Year (Eric Meyer). Meyer bounced the pitch off the turf towards third where Gorlok Mitch Daniels made a snow cone stop and then dove to beat the runner to the bag for an out; but scoring a run. Dryden Schroeder followed with a RBI single through the left side to tie the game at 2-2. 

Spalding put the lead-off runner on in the 6th, once again with a walk. A Marcus Collins single would plate Michael Speck from second to give the Golden Eagles a 3-2 lead. The Gorloks looked like they would answer back in the bottom half when RJ LaRocco doubled high off the leftfield wall to start the inning. Kyler Kent was robbed of a hit by a snare from Spalding first baseman Schroeder. Swords singled to right but the runner held at third, giving Webster runners at first-and-third with one out. The Gorloks attempted a squeeze play with A.J. Smith but the ball went right back to the pitcher who flipped the ball to the catcher in plenty of time to make the tag; ending the Gorloks hopes in the inning. 

Mulhearn continued to keep the Gorloks in the game, despite allowing three hits combined in the 7th and 8th innings, working around Spaldings offensive attack. 

In the bottom of the 8th the Gorlok lineup came through for Mulhearn with Adam Lovell leading off with a single. LaRocco followed with a single of his own, putting the go-ahead run on base. A sacrifice bunt and intentional walk followed, loading the bases with one out. That was when Smith drove the ball back up the middle, plating two runs and putting the Gorloks back on top 4-3. 

From there Mulhearn closed the door in the top of the 9th but not without drama. After striking out the first batter of the inning Evan Trentman singled to put the tying run on base. Mulhearn then forced a pop up to second for the second out before ending the game with a ground ball force out at second base. Mulhearn finished the game going 9 innings, allowing 12 hits and three runs while striking out 9 and walking three.

Evan Trentman led all hitters with four hits in the game for Spalding.

Game 2: #1 Webster vs. #2 Spalding

While game one of the night saw a memorable outing from a senior pitcher, in the nightcap it was a freshman pitcher that took center stage for the Gorloks. Jordan Smevoll got the call and would improve to 9-0 on the season behind 6 innings of seven-hit, two-run ball while striking out 7 and walking none. Smevoll overcame on error by his defense and a single in the top of the first, forcing Spalding to line out to center and pop-up to short; stranding runners at first and third. 

The Gorlok offense got started in the bottom half when Adam Lovell singled up the middle. After back-to-back outs the inning was kept alive when Ben Swords reached on a hit by pitch. A.J. Smith then singled up the middle to give the Gorloks an early lead. Spalding struck back when they returned to the plate as Mitchell Langley doubled in Zane Baker, who had reached on an infield single. 

With the game tied at 1-1 the Gorloks put together a four-run second inning, doing so on two hits and two errors. Zach Goodman and Landon Vahle opened the inning with back-to-back singles and Aron Hopp loaded the bases when he was hit by a pitch. After a fly ball was lifted to leftfield an errant throw escaped the Spalding catcher and wound up in the netting behind home plate, allowing two runs to cross the plate. The Gorloks tacked on another run on a fielder's choice and RBI ground out to take a 5-1 lead.

Spalding got one run back in the top of the 3rd when Michael Speck singled in Evan Trentman but the Golden Eagles rally was cut short, leaving the bases loaded. 

Webster broke the game open in the 4th inning using the long ball. Lovell, R.J. LaRocco, and Kyler Kent racked three straight singles to load the bases. After a pitching change Swords greeted the new hurler with a grand slam, sending the ball high over the leftfield wall for a 9-2 Webster lead. Webster would add on another run in the 5th and three more in the 6th, coming from a three-run home run by Goodman to cruise to the win.

Goodman finished with a game-high four hits while Swords drove in five.