SAUGET, Ill. -- Webster started out the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference schedule by squeaking out a 1-0 win, in 10 innings, against Blackburn at GCS Ballpark. The Gorloks needed 10 record-breaking shutout innings from starter Isaac Behme and a walk-off suicide squeeze bunt by Charlie Gandolfi for the game winner.
Behme was matched inning for inning by Blackburn starter Tim Hills, who had allowed Webster just four hits heading into the bottom of the 10th.
Zach Allam led off the bottom of the 10th with a double. Allam had entered into the contest as a replacement for Ian Foege when he was injured running the bases in the third. Freshman Matt Wollnik sacrificed him to third, after Allam was nearly picked off second the previous pitch.
Charlie Gandolfi then laid down a perfect squeeze bunt up the third base line, as Allam slid home well ahead of the throw. With a 2-4 effort on the night, Gandolfi improved his season batting average to .389.
Behme only allowed four hits and two walks in earning the complete game shutout. It was the first time in Webster baseball history a pitcher has thrown a 10-inning shutout, as well as pitching 10 innings in a single game as well. That was Behme's first decision in four starts as he goes to 1-0.
The Beavers had lost 14 consecutive games to start the season before defeating Westminster 12-2 in their last contest.
Webster was the pre-season SLIAC coaches' poll pick to win the SLIAC in 2014. Webster has won the SLIAC regular season title for seven years, and the SLIAC Baseball Tournament Championship seven of the past eight times it has been completed.
