Diamond 'Dogs Get Past High Point, 9-5, Sunday Afternoon
May 10, 2009 | Baseball
BOILING SPRINGS – Gardner-Webb senior Daniel Cooke went
3-for-5 with a double, a home run and four RBI Sunday to pace the
‘Dogs to a key, 9-5 win over High Point at Masters Field.
The Diamond ‘Dogs (24-22, 12-12 Big South) built a 6-0 lead
through four innings, with Cooke's two-run single in the fourth
capping that early lead. Kurt Fulginiti homered to lead off the
second inning, Cooke doubled with two outs in the third and scored
on Justin Loyd's double for a 2-0 lead – then Tyler Johnson
and Brock Miller poked consecutive RBI singles in the fourth in
front of Cooke's big hit.
High Point (18-27, 10-11 Big South) plated a run off of reliever
Ryan Maxa in the top of the fifth, and took advantage of a fielding
miscue in the sixth to plate four runs (three unearned) to trim
Gardner-Webb's advantage to just one run, 6-5.
Cooke answered with a big blow, hammering a line drive, two-run
home run to left center that put GWU in front 8-5. Maxa worked out
of trouble in the seventh, and Ty Boyles launched his 14th home run
of the season to lead off the bottom half of that inning, taking a
2-0 fastball over the fence in left for a 9-5 edge.
High Point got a pair of infield singles to start the eighth, and
had runners at second and third with no outs after a throwing error
that followed the second single. Alfie Wheeler stepped to the plate
and flew out to right field, but GWU right fielder Jonathan Ahearn
cut down the runner attempting to score on the tag for a double
play that dampened a potential rally by the visitors. Maxa then
recorded the third out with a clutch strikeout to end the
inning.
High Point got a pair of singles to lead off the ninth as well, but
Maxa worked out of the inning to complete a long relief effort.
Jonathon Ban (3-1) worked a solid 4.0 innings on a pitch count for
the win, fanning four, walking only one and allowing just three
hits in a strong start. Maxa picked up the extended save, lasting
the final 5.0 innings and allowing two earned runs on 10 hits
(three strikeouts). Gardner-Webb turned a pair of double plays,
giving the ‘Dogs five twin killings in their two wins in the
series.
Cooke collected his 250th career hit in the game, making the
two-sport star the first known player in NCAA Division I history to
have more than 250 tackles in football (281), 250 hits in baseball
(251), 150 runs scored (167) and 75 stolen bases (92) in a
career.
In addition to Cooke's big day, Johnson went 3-for-4 with an RBI
single and a run scored. Brock Miller had a pair of hits (2-for-5)
and stole two bases. Aaron Miller (2-for-4 run) stayed hot at the
plate, as did Jon Ahearn (2-for-4, run).
Gardner-Webb rapped out 15 hits as a team Sunday.
Brian Jones (2-6) took the loss, lasting 4.0 innings and allowing
six runs on nine hits (five strikeouts). Zach Scott gave up three
runs on five hits in 3.0 innings of relief work, and Jeremy Berg
pitched a scoreless eighth for the Panthers.
High Point had 13 hits in the game, with Spenser Atwood going
3-for-3 with two runs at the dish. Bill Manion (2-for-5, RBI),
Billy Alvino (2-for-5) and Kyle Mahoney (2-for-5, 2 2B, RBI) also
had multiple hit afternoons for the Panthers.
Gardner-Webb extended its hold on fifth place in the league
standings with the win, and will travel to Winthrop on Thursday
night at 6 pm ET for its final Big South series of the season.
