Diamond 'Dogs Fall Short In 12-10 Loss At Appalachian State
April 16, 2009 | Baseball
BOONE,
N.C. – Gardner-Webb trailed 11-4 after three innings, but
mounted a charge in the middle innings before falling at
Appalachian State, 12-10, Wednesday night. The Diamond ‘Dogs
(17-15) went up 4-0 in the top of the first, and appeared in
control. Brock Miller led off the game with a triple and scored on
a wild pitch to put GWU up 1-0. Matt Rizzuto followed singles by
Kurt Fulginiti and Ty Boyles with a triple to left, putting the
‘Dogs up 3-0, and Rizzuto scored the game's fourth run on a
Bubbie Spake single before Appalachian State had a chance to bat.
The Mountaineers went quietly in the first, but used an Isaac
Harrow grand slam and a three-run homer by Jarrod Faggart in the
second to spark an eight-run burst that erased Gardner-Webb's early
edge. Appalachian State added three runs in the third to go up
11-4, but the Runnin' Bulldogs would rally. Miller led off the
fifth with a single, stole second and scored after consecutive
singles from Loyd and Fulginiti. Boyles followed with a three-run
bomb to left – his ninth of the season – to cut the lead
to 11-8, and Spake drove in the Bulldogs' ninth run with a
sacrifice fly. The ‘Dogs threatened again in the sixth, as
Fulginiti drove in Loyd with a single to left, cutting the lead to
11-10 with two outs. Boyles then doubled down the left field line,
but the Mountaineers cut down Fulginiti at the plate to end the
inning. GWU got the tying run in scoring position in the seventh,
with a Jon Ahearn single and stolen base, but left him on board. An
eighth inning rally was also cut short when Loyd was thrown out at
home attempting to score on another Fulginiti single. Appalachian
State scored on a wild pitch in the bottom of the eighth for the
final scoring of the night, and GWU went in order in the top of the
ninth. Michael Lewis (2-1) took the loss for GWU, allowing seven
runs in an outing that lasted into the second inning. Gardner-Webb
out hit the Mountaineers 18-14, with Fulginiti collecting a
career-high four hits in five at bats (2 RBI). Boyles finished by
going 3-for-5 and Ahearn also collected three hits (3-for-4).
Miller (2-for-5, SB), Loyd (2-for-4) and Rizzuto (2-for-5) also had
solid offensive efforts for the ‘Dogs. Gardner-Webb will host
UNC Asheville in a Big South contest on Friday afternoon at 3 pm ET
in Boiling Springs (Masters Field).
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