Diamond 'Dogs Drop Sluggish, 9-5, Decision To Norfolk State
May 10, 2008 | Baseball
BOILING SPRINGS – Gardner-Webb had a rough time shaking off
the rust Saturday after taking five days off from practice for
final exams, and the Diamond ‘Dogs dropped a sluggish, 9-5,
decision at home to Norfolk State.
Norfolk State (21-20) plated five runs in the fifth to take a 5-1
lead, using a grand slam from Brad Stephenson and a solo shot on
the next pitch from John Boyd III to chase GWU starter Webster Beal
from the game.
Gardner-Webb (23-26) rallied with three runs in the bottom of the
same inning, cutting the lead to 5-4, but left the bases loaded for
the third time in the game – allowing the Spartans to escape.
Trailing 6-4 in the seventh, GWU got a sharp double from Jeremiah
Lokken that scored Daniel Cooke from third – but Bubbie Spake
was called out after a nifty slide attempt at the plate, and
Norfolk State clung to its lead still.
The Spartans added all the insurance they would need in the ninth,
getting three hits and a two-run double for the final margin. GWU
went quietly in the ninth – dropping its fifth non-conference
game in a row. The last time Gardner-Webb knocked off a
non-conference opponent came in a 6-1 win over Presbyterian on
April 15.
GWU did manage 10 hits, but struck out 10 times and left 10 men on
base in the game. The Bulldogs batted just 4-for-15 with runners in
scoring position in the game, negating several opportunities to
surge in front.
Brock Miller (2-for-3, SB), Justin Loyd (2-for-4, 2B, RBI) and Matt
Rizzuto (2-for-4) paced the offensive effort for GWU. Daniel Cooke
went 1-for-2 at the plate with three steals – but set a new
GWU record by being hit by pitches in three different plate
appearances.
Norfolk State had 12 hits, with Stephenson leading the charge by
going 3-for-4 with four RBI and two runs scored. John Lynch, Boyd
and Tijuan Griffin each had two hits for the visitors.
Spartans' ace Joey Seal (7-3) worked 4.1 innings in relief for the
win. Seal was recently named to the Roger Clemens Award Watch List,
and fanned six batters in the relief appearance. Quinn Bright
started and allowed just four runs in 4.2 innings (four strikeouts)
for Norfolk State.
Game two of the three-game series is set for Sunday at 1 pm ET on
Varsity Field. Leon Schabacker (5-5, 2.47 ERA) will take the bump
for Norfolk State, and Ben Campbell is expected to start the game
for GWU.
