Stackhouse Tosses Complete Game, GWU Tops High Point 10-3 Saturday
May 09, 2009 | Baseball
BOILING SPRINGS – Sophomore lefty Brett Stackhouse tossed
his first career complete game Saturday, allowing just one earned
run to spark Gardner-Webb to a 10-3 win over High Point.
The win evened the key Big South Conference series at one game
apiece, with the rubber match set for Sunday afternoon at Masters
Field (1:00 pm ET).
Stackhouse (5-4) needed only 102 pitches to complete the game,
scattering seven hits and fanning four batters (three walks). His
efficiency led to a quick game, as the final out was recorded just
two hours and 17 minutes after the first pitch. The effort was the
third time in Big South play that Stackhouse has gone at least
eight innings in a win.
Gardner-Webb (23-22, 11-12 Big South) fell behind 2-0 in the top of
the second, as three errors in the field led to a pair of runs for
the Panthers (18-25, 10-10).
Two-out production was key all day for Gardner-Webb, and the second
inning turned momentum. After High Point starter Jamie Serber got
two quick outs, the bottom half of the GWU order stepped up. Aaron
Miller tripled to deep right field, and Jon Ahearn cut the lead to
2-1 with a double into right center. Matt Rizzuto then tied the
score with a double just inside the bag at third, and the ninth
hitter in the order – durable shortstop Tyler Johnson –
roped a double of his own to right to give the ‘Dogs a 3-2
lead that it would cushion as the game wore on.
Stackhouse sat High Point down in order in the third, using just
seven pitches, and Daniel Cooke hammered a first-pitch fastball
over the fence in left center to lead off the bottom half for a 4-2
Bulldog lead.
High Point mounted a rally in the fourth, getting a one-out double
from Drew Geissinger and a two-out single through the right side
from Spencer Andrews to cut the lead to 4-3.
Gardner-Webb's defense stepped up strongly in support of Stackhouse
in the fifth and sixth, cutting down potential rallies with double
plays in each frame. The ‘Dogs added an insurance run in the
bottom of the sixth, getting a solo home run from Rizzuto with one
out in the inning to go up 5-3.
Kurt Fulginiti homered with one out in the seventh to put the hosts
up 6-3, and Justin Loyd launched a long, three-run blast in the
eighth for a 9-3 edge. Ty Boyles followed with a double to left,
and Fulginiti dumped an RBI single in front of the Panthers'
outfield for the final run of the game.
High Point led off the ninth with a walk, but Aaron Miller started
his second double play of the game at third – a masterful
5-4-3 number – and Stackhouse got a fly ball to center to end
the game.
Gardner-Webb rapped out 16 hits in the game, with Brock Miller
(3-for-5, 1 run, SB), Cooke (2-for-3, 2 runs, HR, RBI), Loyd
(2-for-5, 2B, HR, 3 RBI), Fulginiti (2-for-5, HR, 2 RBI), Rizzuto
(2-for-4, 2B, HR, 2 RBI) and JohnsoN (2-for-3, 2B, RBI) leading the
charge.
Most noticeable was Gardner-Webb's production with two outs. The
‘Dogs collected 11 of their hits with two outs in the game
(11-of-19, .579) and batted a solid 6-for-12 with runners in
scoring position.
On Senior Day at Masters Field, Gardner-Webb honored its 12-man
senior class – and that group accounted for 11 of the team's
hit total on the day.
High Point had seven hits, led by Eric Marion's 2-for-4 afternoon.
Serber (4-4) took the loss, scattering 12 hits and five runs over
5.2 innings pitched. Corey Swickle worked the final 2.1 innings,
allowing five runs on four hits with one strikeout.
The two squads will play the series' final game on Sunday at 1 pm
ET.
