Runnin' Bulldogs Battle Back To Take 11-10 Win Friday At Radford
April 30, 2011 | Baseball
RADFORD, Va. - Gardner-Webb plated three runs in the eighth and got
a two-run double with two outs in the ninth from Dusty Quattlebaum
to power an 11-10 win at Radford Friday night.
Gardner-Webb (26-13-1, 10-9 Big South) won its sixth game in a row, and improved to 9-2 in one-run games this season - including five such wins in the past nine days. The game featured 41 combined hits, 26 stranded runners and lasted three and a half hours.
Both teams traded runs early, with Gardner-Webb tying the game, 3-3, in the fourth on an Aaron Miller single that plated John Harris. Radford (25-16, 10-6 Big South) briefly broke free from the tight affair in the bottom of the fifth, scoring four runs on five hits (four doubles) and sending eight men to the plate to go up 7-3. The Runnin' Bulldogs pulled back within striking distance in the top of the sixth, however, pushing across three runs to trim the lead to 7-6.
A three-run burt by the Highlanders in the bottom of the sixth to go up 10-6, but Gardner-Webb's bullpen would hold down the hosts the rest of the way, allowing the 'Dogs a chance to rally.
Gardner-Webb started to claw its way back in the eighth, with Daniel Merck leading off with a single to centerfield. Quattlebaum followed with a one-out single to center, and Scott Coleman came through with an RBI double to bring home Merck and cut the lead to 10-7. An RBI groundout from Adam McFarland scored Quattlebaum for a 10-8 score, and Coleman came around on a fielding error by the Highlanders at second base to cut the margin to one run, 10-9, before Radford could get out of the inning.
Carl Travers led off the bottom of the eighth with a single to left, but was cut down at second trying to stretch that hit into a double. Reliever Adam Izokovic got through the rest of the eighth with little trouble, and Gardner-Webb would have its chance in the ninth.
Aaron Miller led off with an infield single to get things started in the ninth, but a 4-6-3 double play severly dampened any thoughts of a comeback win quickly following that hit. A walk to Merck kept the 'Dogs alive, and Jake Watts followed with an infield single - giving way to speedy pinch runner Danny Yelverton with cleanup man Quattlebaum stepping into the box.
Quattlebaum faced an 0-2 count against Radford's Abram Williams, but delievered the next pitch into the left field corner for a two-run double - his 21st of the season - to give Gardner-Webb an 11-10 lead. Quattlebaum came into the game ranked third nationally in doubles on the season.
Gardner-Webb reliver Brett Stackhouse got a groundball out to start the ninth, but gave way to Jeff Howell after a Matt Hillsinger single. After a fielder's choice, Radford's Alex Guerra coaxed a two-out walk from GWU fireman Jeff Howell, but Howell recovered to strike out Ryan Burgess to end the game and earn his sixth save of the season.
Izokovic (3-1) earned the win, hurling a scoreless eighth. Brandon Boling (0.2) and Matt Liedberg (1.0) joined Stackhouse and Howell in keeping Radford off the board. Starter Conner Scarborough pitched 3.1 innings, allowed nine hits and two earned runs in a no decision.
Gardner-Webb had a season-high 21 hits in the game, with Quattlebaum (4-for-6, 2B, 3 RBI), Merck (4-for-5) and Miller (4-for-5) leading the way. John Harris (3-for-5) and Watts (2-for-5) also had multiple hits for the 'Dogs.
Matt Mack (4-for-5, 4 runs, 2 RBI) paced Radford's 20-hit evening. Williams (0-2) took the loss in relief, allowing two runs and three hits in 1.2 innings pitched. Starter Eddie Butler scattered 13 hits and allowed six runs in 5.0 innings of work.
Friday's loss snapped an eight-game league winning streak for Radford.
The two teams will play game two of the series on Saturday at 4:00 pm.
Gardner-Webb (26-13-1, 10-9 Big South) won its sixth game in a row, and improved to 9-2 in one-run games this season - including five such wins in the past nine days. The game featured 41 combined hits, 26 stranded runners and lasted three and a half hours.
Both teams traded runs early, with Gardner-Webb tying the game, 3-3, in the fourth on an Aaron Miller single that plated John Harris. Radford (25-16, 10-6 Big South) briefly broke free from the tight affair in the bottom of the fifth, scoring four runs on five hits (four doubles) and sending eight men to the plate to go up 7-3. The Runnin' Bulldogs pulled back within striking distance in the top of the sixth, however, pushing across three runs to trim the lead to 7-6.
A three-run burt by the Highlanders in the bottom of the sixth to go up 10-6, but Gardner-Webb's bullpen would hold down the hosts the rest of the way, allowing the 'Dogs a chance to rally.
Gardner-Webb started to claw its way back in the eighth, with Daniel Merck leading off with a single to centerfield. Quattlebaum followed with a one-out single to center, and Scott Coleman came through with an RBI double to bring home Merck and cut the lead to 10-7. An RBI groundout from Adam McFarland scored Quattlebaum for a 10-8 score, and Coleman came around on a fielding error by the Highlanders at second base to cut the margin to one run, 10-9, before Radford could get out of the inning.
Carl Travers led off the bottom of the eighth with a single to left, but was cut down at second trying to stretch that hit into a double. Reliever Adam Izokovic got through the rest of the eighth with little trouble, and Gardner-Webb would have its chance in the ninth.
Aaron Miller led off with an infield single to get things started in the ninth, but a 4-6-3 double play severly dampened any thoughts of a comeback win quickly following that hit. A walk to Merck kept the 'Dogs alive, and Jake Watts followed with an infield single - giving way to speedy pinch runner Danny Yelverton with cleanup man Quattlebaum stepping into the box.
Quattlebaum faced an 0-2 count against Radford's Abram Williams, but delievered the next pitch into the left field corner for a two-run double - his 21st of the season - to give Gardner-Webb an 11-10 lead. Quattlebaum came into the game ranked third nationally in doubles on the season.
Gardner-Webb reliver Brett Stackhouse got a groundball out to start the ninth, but gave way to Jeff Howell after a Matt Hillsinger single. After a fielder's choice, Radford's Alex Guerra coaxed a two-out walk from GWU fireman Jeff Howell, but Howell recovered to strike out Ryan Burgess to end the game and earn his sixth save of the season.
Izokovic (3-1) earned the win, hurling a scoreless eighth. Brandon Boling (0.2) and Matt Liedberg (1.0) joined Stackhouse and Howell in keeping Radford off the board. Starter Conner Scarborough pitched 3.1 innings, allowed nine hits and two earned runs in a no decision.
Gardner-Webb had a season-high 21 hits in the game, with Quattlebaum (4-for-6, 2B, 3 RBI), Merck (4-for-5) and Miller (4-for-5) leading the way. John Harris (3-for-5) and Watts (2-for-5) also had multiple hits for the 'Dogs.
Matt Mack (4-for-5, 4 runs, 2 RBI) paced Radford's 20-hit evening. Williams (0-2) took the loss in relief, allowing two runs and three hits in 1.2 innings pitched. Starter Eddie Butler scattered 13 hits and allowed six runs in 5.0 innings of work.
Friday's loss snapped an eight-game league winning streak for Radford.
The two teams will play game two of the series on Saturday at 4:00 pm.
| Box Score (PDF) |
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