Runnin' Bulldogs Lose, 6-4, Saturday To Liberty
May 14, 2011 | Baseball
BOILING SPRINGS - Gardner-Webb jumped out to an early lead
Saturday, but its bats went silent after the first inning, as
Liberty rallied for a 6-4 win over the Runnin' Bulldogs to tie the
series at one game apiece.
Gardner-Webb (29-18-1, 13-10 Big South) jumped in front early, as Aaron Miller was hit by an 0-2 pitch to lead off the bottom first and Daniel Merck dropped in a single to right field. Brad Collins brought both men home with one out in the frame, launching a Steven Evans pitch over the fence in left for a three-run home run and the early lead.
Liberty (30-20, 16-7 Big South) got a run back in the top of the second, getting a leadoff single from Justin Sizemore and a two-out double from Austin Taylor to get on the board and cut the lead to 3-1.
Evans settled in on the mound, and Liberty made its move in the top of the fifth to go in front for good. Ian Parmley led off with a single and scored on Tyler Bream's sacrifice fly to right to cut the lead to 3-2. Sizemore then put the Flames in front, belting a two-run home run to left with two outs for a 4-3 lead.
The Flames added another run with two outs in the sixth, taking advantage of a pair of costly errors by Gardner-Webb. Zach Haley was hit by a pitch to get things started and moved all the way to third on a failed pickoff attempt throw. Parmley then hit a grounder to second base that was booted, allowing Haley to trot home for a 5-3 Liberty lead.
The Runnin' Bulldogs pulled within a run in the bottom of the seventh, as Evans walked Matt Sapp and hit Danny Yelverton to give GWU life. A sacrifice bunt attempt wound up working out for the 'Dogs, as Sapp was cut down at third on John Harris' bunt back to Evans - but third baseman Tyler Bream threw the ball away trying to double up Harris at first, allowing Yelverton and Harris to move into scoring position. Miller cut the lead to 5-4 with a deep sacrifice fly to left, but Evans shut the door with an infield pop up to preserve the lead.
Liberty picked that run back up quickly in the eighth, with Ryan Cordell leading off with a double to the base of the scoreboard in right center, then scoring when a ground ball back to the mound was thrown into centerfield after Cordell strayed too far off the bag - allowing the Flames' leftfielder to score easily from second for a 6-4 cushion.
Gardner-Webb got a man on board in the eighth with Collins' one-out single, but Evans coaxed a double play grounder to end the inning - and sat the 'Dogs down in order in the ninth, ending the game with a strikeout.
Evans (6-3) picked up the win, hurling a complete-game five hitter with six strikeouts. It was the second 9.0 inning effort for Evans in as many starts, and his third of the season. The Flames collected 11 hits on the afternoon, with Parmley (2-for-5), Michael Robertson (2-for-5), Sizemore (2-for-4, HR, 2 RBI) and Rasmus (2-for-3, 2B) leading the charge.
Erik Heiligenstadt (3-5) was tagged with the loss, allowing four runs on 10 hits in 5.0 innings of work. Collins (2-for-4, HR, 3 RBI) paced Gardner-Webb's offensive effort. Three other 'Dogs had one hit apiece in the game, with Miller (1-for-2, run), Merck (1-for-4, run) and Watts (1-for-4) collecting singles. The bottom five spots in the GWU batting order Saturday combined to go 0-for-17 at the plate.
The two teams will play the series rubber match on Sunday at 2:00 pm. Gardner-Webb will recognize its seniors prior to the first pitch, with that recognition set for 1:45 pm. Senior Day activities and the entire game will air live on the Big South Network (bigsouthsports.com), the league's video streamining service.
Gardner-Webb (29-18-1, 13-10 Big South) jumped in front early, as Aaron Miller was hit by an 0-2 pitch to lead off the bottom first and Daniel Merck dropped in a single to right field. Brad Collins brought both men home with one out in the frame, launching a Steven Evans pitch over the fence in left for a three-run home run and the early lead.
Liberty (30-20, 16-7 Big South) got a run back in the top of the second, getting a leadoff single from Justin Sizemore and a two-out double from Austin Taylor to get on the board and cut the lead to 3-1.
Evans settled in on the mound, and Liberty made its move in the top of the fifth to go in front for good. Ian Parmley led off with a single and scored on Tyler Bream's sacrifice fly to right to cut the lead to 3-2. Sizemore then put the Flames in front, belting a two-run home run to left with two outs for a 4-3 lead.
The Flames added another run with two outs in the sixth, taking advantage of a pair of costly errors by Gardner-Webb. Zach Haley was hit by a pitch to get things started and moved all the way to third on a failed pickoff attempt throw. Parmley then hit a grounder to second base that was booted, allowing Haley to trot home for a 5-3 Liberty lead.
The Runnin' Bulldogs pulled within a run in the bottom of the seventh, as Evans walked Matt Sapp and hit Danny Yelverton to give GWU life. A sacrifice bunt attempt wound up working out for the 'Dogs, as Sapp was cut down at third on John Harris' bunt back to Evans - but third baseman Tyler Bream threw the ball away trying to double up Harris at first, allowing Yelverton and Harris to move into scoring position. Miller cut the lead to 5-4 with a deep sacrifice fly to left, but Evans shut the door with an infield pop up to preserve the lead.
Liberty picked that run back up quickly in the eighth, with Ryan Cordell leading off with a double to the base of the scoreboard in right center, then scoring when a ground ball back to the mound was thrown into centerfield after Cordell strayed too far off the bag - allowing the Flames' leftfielder to score easily from second for a 6-4 cushion.
Gardner-Webb got a man on board in the eighth with Collins' one-out single, but Evans coaxed a double play grounder to end the inning - and sat the 'Dogs down in order in the ninth, ending the game with a strikeout.
Evans (6-3) picked up the win, hurling a complete-game five hitter with six strikeouts. It was the second 9.0 inning effort for Evans in as many starts, and his third of the season. The Flames collected 11 hits on the afternoon, with Parmley (2-for-5), Michael Robertson (2-for-5), Sizemore (2-for-4, HR, 2 RBI) and Rasmus (2-for-3, 2B) leading the charge.
Erik Heiligenstadt (3-5) was tagged with the loss, allowing four runs on 10 hits in 5.0 innings of work. Collins (2-for-4, HR, 3 RBI) paced Gardner-Webb's offensive effort. Three other 'Dogs had one hit apiece in the game, with Miller (1-for-2, run), Merck (1-for-4, run) and Watts (1-for-4) collecting singles. The bottom five spots in the GWU batting order Saturday combined to go 0-for-17 at the plate.
The two teams will play the series rubber match on Sunday at 2:00 pm. Gardner-Webb will recognize its seniors prior to the first pitch, with that recognition set for 1:45 pm. Senior Day activities and the entire game will air live on the Big South Network (bigsouthsports.com), the league's video streamining service.
| Box Score (PDF) |
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