Ending a 16-game win streak, the Webster University baseball team lost to Illinois State University, 3-1, on April 13, in Normal, IL.  Dylan Dean Smith started and went six strong innings for the Gorloks, but a triumvirate of the Redbirds top starters held the Gorloks to seven hits and one run.

Smith allowed six hits, four walks, and one run, while striking out six, in his six innings of work.  Illinois State scored its lone run off Smith in the third.  With two down and a runner on first, Smith balked the runner to second and a two-out single brought the runner home.

Webster would tie the score in the top on the eighth.  Zach Allam (SO, Bloomington, IN/Edgewood HS) led off with a single, and an error on the Redbird shortstop on freshman Matt Wollnik (Naperville, IL/Neuqua Valley HS), left runners at first and second.

Corey Lasky (SR, Vernon Hills, IL/Adlai E Stevenson HS) laid down a sacrifice bunt to move the runners to second and third.  Ryan Hall (SR, Chesterfield, MO/Eureka HS) grounded to short, scoring Allam to tie the game up, 1-1.

Zach Schneider (SR, Grayslake, IL/Warren Township HS) who had taken over in the seventh for Smith, gave up back to back doubles with one out to allow Illinois State to regain the lead, 2-1.  Jason Gray (SR, St. Louis, MO/Eureka HS) was summoned from the pen.  After retiring the first batter he faced, Gray issued two walks to load the bases. 

Freshman Matt Goro (Wildwood, MO/Lafayette HS) relieved Gray and walked in an insurance run for the Redbirds before recording the final out. 

 Joe Winckel (SR, Bonne Terre, MO/North County HS) singled to open the Webster ninth, but Redbird pitcher Jeremy Rhoades retired the last three to close out the Gorloks.  Schneider took the loss for Webster, and is 3-1 on the season.

Illinois State took no chances on a Webster upset.  The Redbirds rolled out their top three starters in the contest, with ace Dan Savas (7-1, 1.12 ERA) pitching the first two innings, Dylan Craig (4-1, 2.16 ERA) throwing the next three, and Jeremy Rhoades (2-3, 2.13) the final four innings.

Webster falls to 22-4 overall as Illinois State, a member of the Missouri Valley Conference, improve to 21-11.  The Gorloks travel to Elsah, IL, on April 15 to face Principia College, then host Spalding University (KY) for a three-game series on Easter weekend.