UNC Asheville Uses Four-Run First To Beat Gardner-Webb, 4-2, Tuesday
April 17, 2007 | Baseball
ASHEVILLE, N.C. - Gardner-Webb went up 1-0 on a Matt Rizzuto
home run in the top of the first Tuesday, but saw UNC Asheville
respond with a four-run first inning that led to a 4-2 win for the
hosts.
With one out in the first, Rizzuto belted his team-high sixth home
run over the fence in left, giving Gardner-Webb (14-26) an early
advantage. UNC Asheville quickly answered, however, getting a
two-out base hit from David Williams to drive in Kevin Mattison for
a 1-1 tie. GWU starter Taylor Brooks then made trouble for himself,
walking the bases loaded, then allowing a two-run single up the
middle to Edmond Locklear to give Asheville a 3-1 edge. An infield
single by John Whited put the hosts on top 4-1 before Brooks could
work out of the mess.
Brooks settled down for the next two innings, keeping UNC Asheville
off the board and allowing just two more hits, but the damage was
done. Gardner-Webb was handcuffed at the plate, as lefty Chris
Nigro worked through the seventh inning with his team still in
front, 4-1.
Gardner-Webb moved just one runner into scoring position during
that stretch, wasting a Nate MacDonald double in the fourth inning.
GWU reliever Devin Campbell was strong in 4.0 innings of relief,
scattering three hits and fanning three to keep his team within
striking distance.
MacDonald homered for GWU with two outs in the ninth for the final
margin, and UNC Asheville reliever Matt Dalby allowed the tying run
to come to bat after walking Jay McConnell. Dalby recovered to get
Josh Drewery out to end the game, sending GWU to its 10th road loss
in the past 11 games away from Boiling Springs (six in a row).
MacDonald (2-for-4, 2B, HR) and Drewery (2-for-4) each had two of
Gardner-Webb's seven hits. Brooks (0-3) took the loss, allowing
four runs and six hits in 3.0 innings of work.
Locklear and Mattison each had two of UNC Asheville's nine hits.
Nigro (2-3) went 7.0 innings, scattered five hits and fanned three
to get the win.
Gardner-Webb returns home on Friday to host A-Sun foe Kennesaw
State at 3 pm ET on Varsity Field. That game will be the first of a
three-game league series in Boiling Springs.
| BOX SCORE: UNC Asheville 4, GWU 2 |
