Diamond 'Dogs Rap Out 26 Hits To Top Wofford, 22-7, Wednesday Night
April 29, 2010 | Baseball
FOREST CITY, N.C. - Gardner-Webb used an 11-run first inning to spark a 22-7 win over Wofford Wednesday night, rapping out a season-high 26 hits in the process.
The Runnin' Bulldogs (20-20) won their third straight and saw half of their hits (13) go for extra bases. The run total was also a season high, besting a 19-run outing in the series finale at Presbyterian on March 27.
Gardner-Webb used the long ball and 10 total hits to score 11 runs in the bottom of the first. Aaron Miller hit a two-run home run and drove in two more with a triple in the frame, and Josh Drewery hammered a three-run home run to right as part of the assault. GWU scored nine unearned runs after a Wofford error in the frame. Five of Gardner-Webb's 10 hits in the inning went for extra bases, including RBI doubles from Jake Watts and Adam McFarland.
The two teams traded a pair of runs in the second inning, before GWU reliever Kyle Paeplow retired Wofford in the top of the third to stem the early scoring pace.
Gardner-Webb pushed its lead to 18-4 in the third, with Kurt Fulginiti slicing a double to right and Ty Boyles connecting on a two-run home run. Daniel Merck belted a triple to right center to drive in two more runs and Aaron Miller drove in his sixth run of the day with a single to left.
After Wofford (13-27) plated a run in the top of the fourth, Gardner-Webb scored twice more in the bottom half of the inning, using RBI singles from John Harris and Miller - pushing the score to 20-5.
The Terriers plated single runs in the sixth and seventh, but stranded three runners combined during that stretch to prevent a deeper cut into the lead.
GWU got back-to-back RBI doubles from O.J. McFarland and Aaron Haynes in the seventh to wrap up the scoring for the Diamond 'Dogs.
Miller finished the night a double shy of the cycle, going 4-for-7 with a career-high seven RBI. Harris also posted a career-high effort, going 4-for-5 with a double. Daniel Merck (3-for-4), Adam McFarland (3-for-5) and Josh Drewery (3-for-6) had a trio of hits each for the 'Dogs, and Fulginiti (2-for-5) also had a multi-hit effort. A total of 13 players had at least one hit for Gardner-Webb in the game.
Michael Hanzlik (3-3) worked the fifth and sixth innings to pick up the win in relief, scattering two hits and giving up a run. Brett Stackhouse and Jeff Howell each hurled a scoreless inning in relief to close out the game, with both recording a pair of strikeouts.
Wofford had 11 hits in the game, with Mac Doyle (2-for-4, RBI), Landon Bennett (2-for-2, RBI) and Josh McKinney (2-for-4) collecting two each.
Gus White (2-4) took the loss, lasting just 0.2 innings in the start and allowing seven runs on five hits with a costly error in the first. Only two of those seven runs were earned.
Gardner-Webb hits the road for a key Big South Conference series this weekend, traveling to face second-place Liberty on Friday at 7 pm in Lynchburg, Va.
Wofford hosts Southern Conference foe Elon this weekend in Spartanburg, with the opener set for Friday at 7 pm ET.
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