Fulginiti's Double Lifts 'Dogs To 11-10 Win At Davidson In 12 Innings
April 09, 2009 | Baseball
DAVIDSON, N.C. – Kurt Fulginiti's RBI double in the top of the 12th inning broke a 10-10 tie, and freshman Jake Watts retired Davidson in order in the bottom half to lift Gardner-Webb to an 11-10 road win Wednesday night.
Gardner-Webb (15-13) bolted to a 5-0 lead in the top of the first, but saw the Wildcats rally.
Davidson (12-14) plated three runs in the bottom of the first to pull back into the game quickly, and took a 7-6 lead with a three-run burst in the fourth. Gardner-Webb responded in the top of the eighth to go back in front, as Daniel Cooke and Justin Loyd came through with RBI singles to put the ‘Dogs in front 8-7.
The Wildcats would tie the game in the bottom of the ninth, as Drew Gadaire hit a one-out, solo home run to left center – his third long ball of the game – before GWU could get out of the frame still tied.
Gardner-Webb's Tyler Johnson singled and eventually moved to third on a balk in the top of the 10th – then scored on a wild pitch to put the ‘Dogs in front 9-8 with two outs. Justin Loyd – who reached after a strikeout on that same wild pitch – stole third base to put another run 90 feet away, but Davidson closer Matt Webb prevented any further damage with a strikeout.
Davidson got a leadoff double and a sacrifice bunt to threaten in the bottom of the 10th, and Seth Freeman drove in the tying run with a single up the middle to extend the game. Freshman reliever Josh White got out of the inning, however, sending the game to the 11th.
Gardner-Webb got a pair on board with one out after walks were issued to Matt Rizzuto, and got a bunt single from Tyler Johnson to put the ‘Dogs up 10-9 with two outs in the 11th. The lead was short lived, however, as Gadaire belted his fourth home run of the game with one out in the bottom of the inning, another solo shot that tied the game again.
Davidson didn't scratch again in the 11th, and GWU got an RBI bunt single from Johnson in the top of the 12th to drive in Rizzuto for a 10-9 edge.
Gadaire proved heroic again for Davidson in the bottom half, slamming his fourth home run of the game with one out to tie the score again. Gadaire, the Wildcats' first baseman doubled his home run total for the season on Wednesday night. Watts, who entered the game in the 11th on the mound, got out of the inning – setting up another rally that put the ‘Dogs in front for good.
Loyd poked a one-out single with one out in the top of the 12th, and scored on Fulginiti's double for the go ahead run. GWU got two more on board, but Davidson got out of the inning still down just one run.
Watts (1-1) got a strikeout and two fly balls to end the game, picking up his first career win in the process.
Loyd went 4-for-6 with a home run and three RBI to pace Gardner-Webb offensively. Tyler Johnson was also strong at the plate, going 3-for-6 with an RBI and run scored. Cooke added three hits, Boyles had two and Rizzuto had two hits and a home run as well. Rizzuto's three-run blast in the first inning gave GWU early momentum. Brock Miller also had a pair of hits for the ‘Dogs.
Gadaire was magnificent at the plate for Davidson, going 5-for-6 with five runs scored, four home runs and five RBI. No other Wildcat had more than two hits.
Gardner-Webb will get back into Big South Conference play this weekend, traveling to face VMI on Friday at 6 pm ET in the first of a three-game series that will wrap up Saturday in Lexington, Va.
