Diamond 'Dogs Drop Fifth In A Row With 6-1 Road Loss
April 10, 2007 | Baseball
BOONE, N.C. - Despite playing a team it had beaten 11 times in
its last 12 meetings, Gardner-Webb could not get into the win
column Tuesday, falling at Appalachian State, 6-1.
The loss was the fifth in a row for Gardner-Webb (13-23), and
marked the team's 13th loss in the last 17 games, dating back to a
pair of victories at the University of Georgia in early March.
Tuesday's contest was the first played in recently constructed
Smith Stadium in Boone.
GWU went up, 1-0, on a two-out double by Jamall Kinard in the
third, as the junior outfielder traded places with Justin Loyd -
who had singled earlier in the inning.
Appalachian State wasted little time tying the game, getting an RBI
hit from David Rubenstein in the bottom of the third with two outs.
Rubenstein's safety plated Jason Altenhof, who was hit by a Taylor
Brooks' pitch to lead off the inning.
After both offenses stalled out through the middle innings,
Appalachian State went ahead for good in the sixth. Isaac Harrow
led off with a single off of GWU relief man Nate MacDonald, and
scored one out later on an RBI hit up the middle by David
Towarnicky for a 2-1 Mountaineer advantage.
As has been the case of late, Gardner-Webb couldn't find any good
offensive fortune with men on base.
GWU collected a pair of hits in the seventh, but pinch runner Brock
Miller was thrown out at the plate attempting to score from second
on Shea Harris' single with one out. Joey Testa was hit by a pitch
with two outs, putting the go ahead run on base, but Kinard was
fanned by reliever Brandon Graves, stranding both men.
Appalachian State made the Bulldogs pay in the bottom of the
seventh, putting the game out of reach with four runs.
With one out in the seventh, Bulldog reliever Webster Beal allowed
a single, a walk and a three-run home run to Andrew Franco that
pushed the Mountaineers' lead to 5-1. Matt Tafazzoli entered
quickly for GWU, but the Mountaineers' Harrow greeted him with a
single, stole second, moved to third on another hit and scored on a
sacrifice fly by Towarnicky for a 6-1 edge. Harris threw out Tom
Prosser on a steal attempt to end the inning, but Appalachian State
had rapped out four hits and built too big a hole for Gardner-Webb
to climb out of.
The 'Dogs went quietly in the eighth and ninth against Appalachian
State reliever Zach Quate, collecting a ninth-inning single to no
avail.
MacDonald (2-2) was tagged with the loss, allowing one run and two
hits in his lone inning of relief work.
The loss spoiled another strong start by GWU righthander Taylor
Brooks, who worked 4.0 innings and allowed just one run on two
hits. Wes Cogdill also worked a scoreless frame for Gardner-Webb
before the late-inning surge by Appalachian State.
Jonathan Reeder (2-1) got the win for the Mountaineers, despite
giving up nine hits in 6.2 innings of work. The Mountaineer
bullpen, normally a weak spot, did not allow a hit in 2.1 innings
of work Tuesday afternoon.
Rubenstein went 3-for-3 to pace the Appalachian State offense,
which tallied nine hits on the day. Harrow (2-for-4) also had a
pair of hits.
Gardner-Webb managed 10 hits, with Jeremiah Lokken (2-for-4) and
Loyd (2-for-3) leading the way.
GWU will return to conference play at home this weekend, as
Jacksonville rolls into town for a three-game series beginning
Friday afternoon at 3:00 on Varsity Field.
