Sauget, Ill., March 13th, 2021 – The Westminster College Blue Jays baseball team had some time off since their last games. The long layoff saw the Blue Jays return to play a double header against the defending conference champion Webster University Gorloks in their conference opener. Game one would see the Blue Jays offense match up against one of the best NCAA Division III pitchers in the country in Webster hurler Matt Mulhearn. He was too much for the Blue Jays to handle and the Gorloks prevailed in game one 7-0. The loss dropped the Westminster record to 3-1 on the season and 0-1 in the SLIAC.
The Blue Jays offense was kept in check by Mulhearn as the Jays would only be able to muster three singles on the day. Hayden Hirschvogel, Derek Shikles and Parker Schnieders were the Jays that were able to reach via basehit.
The Blue Jays did manage to get runners into scoring position in both the fifth and sixth innings. In the fifth Shikles led off the inning with the Jays first hit. Later in the inning Schnieders would single and Coltin Green would advance the runners to second and third but the Blue Jays couldn't find the two out hit.
The sixth inning would start with a strike out before Steven Diaz was hit by a pitch. After a fielders choice recorded the second out, the runner then advanced to second on Hirschvogel's single. Once again the two out hit eluded the Jays.
The Blue Jay starter Grant Higginbotham grinded through five innings keeping the Blue Jays within striking distance. He allowed two runs on one hit but walked five and struck out one. The Gorloks would break the game open in the eighth inning when they plated 5 runs on four hits.
The Blue Jays will be back in action in game two of the double header at Webster University looking to gain a split. First pitch of game two is set for 3:00 p.m.
