Friday's Winners Set up Familiar Championship Round

After a day of offense on Thursday, Friday's slate of games in the 2023 SLIAC Baseball Tournament was a little more subdued with just 22 total runs scored over the three games compared to yesterday's 41 runs over two games. At the end of the night the final two teams in the tournament, Spalding and Webster, set up a familiar championship round on Saturday.

Elimination Round - #4 Westminster College defeated #6 Eureka College, 6-4
Having won 7 of its previous 10 games, Eureka looked to continue its strong finish to the season and got off to a strong start to open the Friday schedule. Nick Rulevish singled in Cole Tanner in the first inning for a fast lead. The Red Devils added to their lead in the next frame when Braden Cox scored on a fielder's choice. But the explosive Blue Jays cracked the scoreboard in the bottom of the 2nd, stringing together three runs on three hits including a two-run double by Steven Diaz. The Blue Jays added two more runs in the 5th and another in the 6th to build up a 6-2 lead. Eureka pushed a run across in the 7th when Rulevish, who had singled and stole second, would come in to score. The Red Devils made things interesting when Nathan Garard homered to lead off the 8th. Tanner singled later in the inning but was stranded and two more runners were left on base in the 9th inning as Hayden Sanborn come on for the save for Westminster. Blue Jay Steven Diaz hit for the cycle in the game, going 4-for-4 with 4 RBI. 

Elimination Round - #1 Webster University defeated #2 Spalding, 3-0
The day's second game boasted a pair of offenses that tied the conference tournament record for runs scored in a game one day earlier, but on Friday it was a pitcher's duel that had just three runs and 11 combined hits. The game was scoreless until the 7th inning when the Gorloks were able to put numbers on the scoreboard. An error started the inning for the Gorloks and after a hit-by-pitch, a sacrifice bunt pushed the runners into scoring position. Matt Staker followed with a two-run double and R.J. LaRocco chased him home with a double of his own; putting the Gorloks up 3-0. Gorlok pitchers did not allow a hit in the final two innings with Joel Arsenault coming on to pick up the save. 

Elimination Round - #2 Spalding University defeated #4 Westminster College, 5-4
The day's final game saw Westminster battle each other with each team holding the lead at some point during the game. Westminster started the game with a two-run home run by Skyler Bushey that gave the Blue Jays the lead. Spalding cut that lead in half in the next inning and would take the lead with two more in the 5th with RBI from Ethan Tuttle and Salas. Runs in each of the next two innings gave Spalding a 5-2 lead after 7 innings. The Blue Jays broke out their record-setting power bats in the 8th inning to close to within a run. Quin Adelson and Coltin Green hit back-to-back home runs, extending the team's conference single-season record to 60 home runs. But after a walk and sacrifice bunt pushed the tying run to second the Gorloks escaped the inning with a strikeout and flyout. The Blue Jays put the tying run on again in the 9th but a strikeout would end the threat as Wesley Clark picked up the save. 

What's Next
For the fourth consecutive season, Spalding and Webster will meet in the championship round, tying the longest such streak in conference tournament history. The only other time the same two teams met in four straight championships was between MacMurray College and Westminster College from 1993-96. Webster has won four straight tournament titles and will be looking to tie their own conference record with a fifth straight which they originally set from 2010-14. They have won a conference record 12 tournament titles. Spalding is making its fifth championship appearance and is looking for the program's first title. 

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