Best Game of 2012-2013: Baseball vs. Marietta College

0
353

Five days after the Webster University baseball team defeated No. 1-ranked Wheaton College (Mass.), the Gorloks took on No. 2-ranked Marietta College (Ohio) in Port Charlotte, Fla.

Marietta won the College World Series (CWS) in 2011 and 2012. The Pioneers ended Webster’s 2012 season with a come-from-behind 12-7 victory in the CWS.

Senior right-hander Steven Dooley got the start for the Gorloks in the March 15 game against Marietta. Webster’s ace was opposed by Marietta’s top starter — freshman left-hander Jason Byers. Neither team scored through the game’s first five innings as the two squads combined for only 5 hits during that span.

The Gorloks tallied runs in the top of the sixth and seventh innings to grab a 2-0 lead. Webster held that two-run lead into the bottom of the ninth inning, as Dooley threw 143 pitches in 8 2/3 innings. After Dooley got the first two Marietta hitters out in the ninth frame, he walked Mitch Geers and allowed a double to Alex Toth.

Senior closer Jason Gray then entered the game to try to preserve a Webster win. Marietta’s Bryan Gregorich hit the ball directly into the ground, which caused it to pop straight up into the air. Gray didn’t have much time to make the play, and his throw sailed over first baseman Brett Buchanan’s head, allowing two runs to score.

The Gorloks came right back in the top of the 10th inning. Junior Ryan Hall singled home senior Cody Stevenson to give the Gorloks a 3-2 edge.

Gray received another chance to close out the game. After he recorded a groundout and a strikeout, Gray hit Evan Brockmeier and allowed a single to Aaron Hopper. With the tying run at second base, Gray coaxed Josh Ungerbuehler into a groundout to end the game.

“It was awesome,” Gray said. “I love facing top competition. It gave me a chance to prove myself. It gave our whole team a chance to prove ourselves this year. We all knew we’d be a top-15 team. And we just knew if we went out there and played our game, we’d be able to win.”

Webster coach Bill Kurich said the way the Gorloks won made the victory that much more special.

“Looking back now, it probably did more for our team to win it in extras the way we did,” Kurich said. “To be up the whole game and to give it away on a fluke play, and then have the intensity and fortitude to battle back in the 10th and then hold on in the 10th, that was pretty good.”

Runner-up: Softball beats College of Mount St. Joseph 10-9 (9 innings)

Click HERE to view The Journal’s pick for ‘Best Men’s Team’

Click HERE to return to the navigation page of The Journal’s 2012-2013 Athletic Awards

Share this post

Facebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmail
+ posts