Runnin' Bulldogs Fall 4-1 Friday Night At Winthrop
May 21, 2011 | Baseball
ROCK
HILL, S.C. - Gardner-Webb took an early 1-0 lead Friday night at
the Winthrop Ballpark, but saw the host Eagles plate three runs in
the seventh to drop the Runnin' Bulldogs, 4-1.
The loss dropped Gardner-Webb (29-21-1, 13-13 Big South) out of a chance to finish in the top-4 in the league and clinched a first-round bye for Winthrop in the upcoming Big South Conference Tournament.
Early on, strong pitching by freshman Erik Heiligenstadt and a quick bat by Adam McFarland gave Gardner-Webb the lead. McFarland smashed a solo home run to right center with two outs in the top of the third inning, providing some much needed energy for the 'Dogs.
Heiligenstadt would sit the Eagles (27-27, 15-11 Big South) down in the third with the lead intact. Winthrop tied the game in the fourth with some two-out magic of its own, as TJ Olesczuk poked a two-out single up the middle to score Cam Walters from third base.
Neither team would scratch again until the seventh. Chaz Crane rolled a single through the left side to get things started for what would be Winthrop's game-winning rally, and moved to third when Olesczuk rolled a double just past a drawn in infield and inside the third base bag. A wild pitch gave the Eagles a 2-1 lead - and Brett Thomas hooked a breaking ball just over the fence in right for a two-run home run and a 4-1 advantage that would stand.
Winthrop starter Robert Lake cruised down the stretch, using only 10 pitches in the eighth and ninth to sit the 'Dogs down. Lake (4-4) need only 75 pitches to get through his complete-game, 9.0 inning effort, which saw him scatter five hits and allow only one run. He sat down 21 of the final 22 batters he faced - and worked quickly in a game that lasted just 1:57.
Heiligenstadt (3-6) took the loss despite a gritty effort, working 6.0 innings, scattering eight hits and allowing four runs (one walk). Jeff Howell worked a pair of scoreless innings to keep Winthrop in front by just three runs.
The Eagles had nine hits in the game, with Olesczuk going 2-for-3 to lead the way. Five different Gardner-Webb batters had one hit each in the game.
The two teams will play the regular season finale on Saturday at 1:00 pm at the Winthrop Ballpark. The Big South Tournament begins on Tuesday in Lexington, Va. Official pairings will be announced on Saturday night
The loss dropped Gardner-Webb (29-21-1, 13-13 Big South) out of a chance to finish in the top-4 in the league and clinched a first-round bye for Winthrop in the upcoming Big South Conference Tournament.
Early on, strong pitching by freshman Erik Heiligenstadt and a quick bat by Adam McFarland gave Gardner-Webb the lead. McFarland smashed a solo home run to right center with two outs in the top of the third inning, providing some much needed energy for the 'Dogs.
Heiligenstadt would sit the Eagles (27-27, 15-11 Big South) down in the third with the lead intact. Winthrop tied the game in the fourth with some two-out magic of its own, as TJ Olesczuk poked a two-out single up the middle to score Cam Walters from third base.
Neither team would scratch again until the seventh. Chaz Crane rolled a single through the left side to get things started for what would be Winthrop's game-winning rally, and moved to third when Olesczuk rolled a double just past a drawn in infield and inside the third base bag. A wild pitch gave the Eagles a 2-1 lead - and Brett Thomas hooked a breaking ball just over the fence in right for a two-run home run and a 4-1 advantage that would stand.
Winthrop starter Robert Lake cruised down the stretch, using only 10 pitches in the eighth and ninth to sit the 'Dogs down. Lake (4-4) need only 75 pitches to get through his complete-game, 9.0 inning effort, which saw him scatter five hits and allow only one run. He sat down 21 of the final 22 batters he faced - and worked quickly in a game that lasted just 1:57.
Heiligenstadt (3-6) took the loss despite a gritty effort, working 6.0 innings, scattering eight hits and allowing four runs (one walk). Jeff Howell worked a pair of scoreless innings to keep Winthrop in front by just three runs.
The Eagles had nine hits in the game, with Olesczuk going 2-for-3 to lead the way. Five different Gardner-Webb batters had one hit each in the game.
The two teams will play the regular season finale on Saturday at 1:00 pm at the Winthrop Ballpark. The Big South Tournament begins on Tuesday in Lexington, Va. Official pairings will be announced on Saturday night
| Box Score (PDF) |
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