Runnin' Bulldogs Win Fifth In A Row With 3-2 Rally At Furman
April 28, 2011 | Baseball
GREENVILLE, S.C. - Scott Coleman's two-run double in the top of the
eighth broke a 1-1 tie, and Gardner-Webb's bullpen held on for a
3-2 win over Furman Wednesday night.
The win was the fifth in a row for Gardner-Webb (25-13-1), which equaled last season's win total and won its eighth one-run game of the year (8-2 record in one-run games). The Runnin' Bulldogs used another solid bullpen effort, as Jeff Howell (3-1) picked up the win out of the pen and Adam Izokovic worked a scoreless ninth for his sixth save of the season. Izokovic's save was the 14th of his career, which leaves the junior righty just two saves shy of the school's career record.
Izokovic's effort helped Gardner-Webb improve to an impressive 24-1-1 this season when leading after the eighth inning.
The Runnin' Bulldogs jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the second inning, as Dusty Quattlebaum doubled to lead off the frame and scored from third on an RBI groundout by Adam McFarland.
Furman (19-25) tied the game in the fourth on a Paul Nitto RBI single to left, but GWU starter Erik Heiligenstadt worked out of the inning with the tie intact, striking out a pair of Paladins to get back to the dugout.
Neither team could muster much offensively through the middle innings, with Gardner-Webb mounting its game-winning rally in the eighth. Back-to-back singles with one out from Jake Watts and Daniel Merck got things started and Coleman came through with his clutch, two-run double to left center with two outs to bring home both for a 3-1 lead for the Runnin' Bulldogs.
Furman made a push in the bottom of the eighth. Aaron Thompkins led off with an infield single, moved to second base on a wild pitch, was bunted to third and scored on a sacrifice fly from Will Muzika to trim the lead to 3-2. Howell would shut down the rally after a walk to Nitto, striking out Alex Abrams to strand the tying run.
Gardner-Webb collected a pair of hits in the ninth, but saw both runners picked off, as Furman staved off any thoughts of insurance offense for the visitors. Izokovic came on and worked through the Paladins in order in the ninth to end the game.
GWU had 12 hits, with Coleman (2-for-4, 2B, 2 RBI) and Merck (2-for-4) leading the way). Heiligenstadt worked 5.0 strong innings in a no-decision start, striking out two and scattering six hits with only one run allowed. The Forest, Va., freshman has gone 2-1 with a 2.25 ERA and 16 strikeouts (two walks) in his last four starts (20.0 IP).
Brock Wilson and Brett Stackhouse worked 1.2 scoreless innings before giving way to Howell and Izokovic.
Furman collected eight hits in the game, with Taylor Johnson (2-for-3) leading the way. Brian Dudzinski (0-2) took the loss, allowing two runs on three hits in 1.2 innings of work.
Gardner-Webb will get back to Big South Conference action on Friday night, traveling to face Radford at 6:00 pm.
The win was the fifth in a row for Gardner-Webb (25-13-1), which equaled last season's win total and won its eighth one-run game of the year (8-2 record in one-run games). The Runnin' Bulldogs used another solid bullpen effort, as Jeff Howell (3-1) picked up the win out of the pen and Adam Izokovic worked a scoreless ninth for his sixth save of the season. Izokovic's save was the 14th of his career, which leaves the junior righty just two saves shy of the school's career record.
Izokovic's effort helped Gardner-Webb improve to an impressive 24-1-1 this season when leading after the eighth inning.
The Runnin' Bulldogs jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the second inning, as Dusty Quattlebaum doubled to lead off the frame and scored from third on an RBI groundout by Adam McFarland.
Furman (19-25) tied the game in the fourth on a Paul Nitto RBI single to left, but GWU starter Erik Heiligenstadt worked out of the inning with the tie intact, striking out a pair of Paladins to get back to the dugout.
Neither team could muster much offensively through the middle innings, with Gardner-Webb mounting its game-winning rally in the eighth. Back-to-back singles with one out from Jake Watts and Daniel Merck got things started and Coleman came through with his clutch, two-run double to left center with two outs to bring home both for a 3-1 lead for the Runnin' Bulldogs.
Furman made a push in the bottom of the eighth. Aaron Thompkins led off with an infield single, moved to second base on a wild pitch, was bunted to third and scored on a sacrifice fly from Will Muzika to trim the lead to 3-2. Howell would shut down the rally after a walk to Nitto, striking out Alex Abrams to strand the tying run.
Gardner-Webb collected a pair of hits in the ninth, but saw both runners picked off, as Furman staved off any thoughts of insurance offense for the visitors. Izokovic came on and worked through the Paladins in order in the ninth to end the game.
GWU had 12 hits, with Coleman (2-for-4, 2B, 2 RBI) and Merck (2-for-4) leading the way). Heiligenstadt worked 5.0 strong innings in a no-decision start, striking out two and scattering six hits with only one run allowed. The Forest, Va., freshman has gone 2-1 with a 2.25 ERA and 16 strikeouts (two walks) in his last four starts (20.0 IP).
Brock Wilson and Brett Stackhouse worked 1.2 scoreless innings before giving way to Howell and Izokovic.
Furman collected eight hits in the game, with Taylor Johnson (2-for-3) leading the way. Brian Dudzinski (0-2) took the loss, allowing two runs on three hits in 1.2 innings of work.
Gardner-Webb will get back to Big South Conference action on Friday night, traveling to face Radford at 6:00 pm.
| Box Score (PDF) |
No videos available.
