The Journal

Issue date: 3/9/06 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Martin Ribaudo Gorlok infielder Ryan Webb, left, turns a Webster double play during a March 2 game at Wash U. Second Baseman Matt Adams looks on.

Spring is in the air and at baseball diamonds all over the country, you can hear phrases like "give it a ride now, kid," "let's go five" and "don't be afraid to shake the stick at it."

Webster's baseball team pulled out all the encouraging vernacular that they could muster in support of their teammates, but it wasn't enough. The team suffered two straight losses to begin the season. The first was a heart-breaker to Harris Stowe College that ended with the Gorloks on the short end of a 5-6 score after 10 innings. The second was not so close.

The weather March 2 was cold and breezy as the team traveled to Washington University in St. Louis to face the Bears, a team that was ranked 30th in the country by the ABCA Preseason Poll. The game was no pitchers duel as Webster had 18 hits and Wash U. pounded out 21. By the top of the fourth, Webster was leading 9-6. But things soon changed. Wash U. scored four runs in the bottom of the fourth and never looked back.

The difference in the game was the lackluster pitching of both teams. Neither team's starters shined, but Webster's relief didn't keep the team close. The combination of Chris Phillips, Joe Malat, Colton McClellan and Ben Helton gave up 14 runs, 12 hits and 4 walks. Wash U.'s relievers only allowed three runs and 10 hits with only two free passes.

The Bears defeated the Gorloks 20-10 and the game ended in the bottom of the eighth due to the 10-run rule.

Bright spots for Webster included a three-for-five performance at the plate by second baseman Matt Adams, three RBIs by shortstop Ryan Webb and seven putouts by catcher Kurt Garner.

After the game, head coach Marty Hunsucker was disappointed, but not negative.

"There was just a period where we really didn't do much offensively to keep pace with what they were doing," Hunsucker said. "We just got behind and you can't afford to give up seven, eight, nine runs against anybody, much less a quality team."

Hunsucker says the team is still working out a few of its kinks.

"We have a lot of new bodies and new faces," Hunsucker said. "We're still figuring out where people need to be. It can always be challenging for your pitchers during their first few outings because they're still feeling their way through things and they're not comfortable yet. The kids at the plate are a little more anxious than they need to be and pitch selection can be a problem. But, we'll see. We didn't start quick out of the gates, but we're going to work with what we have left."

A rain delay postponed the team's next scheduled contest against Millikin University, so the Gorloks should be well rested and ready to compete during their spring trip to Tampa Bay from March 10-19. The team will face some tough competition in sunny Florida and should be ready to start their conference schedule when they face off against Mac Murray College for a double-header on March 25.

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