Diamond 'Dogs Beat Furman, 15-4, Wednesday Afternoon
May 19, 2010 | Baseball
GREENVILLE, S.C. - Gardner-Webb rapped out 19 hits, including
four home runs and seven extra base hits, to beat Furman, 15-4,
Wednesday afternoon.
Gardner-Webb (24-27) went up 2-0 in the top of the second, but
Furman tied the score with a pair of runs in the bottom half of
that inning. The Diamond 'Dogs scored three runs in the top of the
third inning to take the lead for good, however.
Daniel Merck singled and moved to second when Aaron Miller was
hit by a pitch to get things going in the third. Kurt Fulginiti
then drove home Merck with an RBI single for a 3-2 lead. Fulginiti
and Miller then executed a double steal, and both scored on Adam
McFarland's two-run single to center for a 5-2 edge.
Gardner-Webb scored a single run in the fifth on a solo home
run by Fulginiti, and used a two-run shot from O.J. McFarland to
spark a three-run rally in the top of the sixth that put the 'Dogs
in front 9-4.
The floodgates opened for Gardner-Webb in the top of the
ninth, with six men crossing the plate to account for the final
margin. After Jake Watts and Josh Drewery singled, John Harris
walked to load the bases for McFarland - who belted a grand slam to
left center to put the 'Dogs up 13-4. Benji Jackson then earned a
base on balls, which set Merck up for a two-run home run that made
the score 15-4.
Adam McFarland (3-for-5, 2B, 2 RBI) and Harris (3-for-4, RBI)
led the way for Gardner-Webb Wednesday at the plate, with O.J.
McFarland (2-for-5, 2 HR, 6 RBI), Merck (2-for-4, HR, 2 RBI),
Jackson (2-for-4, 2B), Miller (2-for-4) and Drewery (2-for-4, 2B,
RBI) also collecting multiple hits.
Michael Hanzlik (4-3) got the win, working 7.0 innings an
scattering four runs on eight hits. The Blythewood, S.C., rookie
fanned five batters in the start. Brandon Boling (0.1 IP), Adam
Izokovic (0.2 IP) and Josh White (0.2 IP) kept the Paladins (16-35)
off the board in the late innings.
Paul Nitto went 2-for-3 with a two-run home run to pace
Furman's nine-hit offensive effort. Starter Emil Brignola (0-1)
took the loss, working 2.1 innings and allowing five runs on four
hits.
Gardner-Webb now hits the road for a very important Big South
Conference series, as it battles UNC Asheville tomorrow at 1 pm ET
in Asheville, N.C.
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