Gardner-Webb Drops 2-1 Decision At Longwood Friday
April 19, 2013 | Baseball
The game's start time was moved up five hours due to expected wet weather Friday night.
Gardner-Webb (20-17-1, 7-6 Big South) got a strong pitching effort from starter Matt Fraudin, who kept the Lancers (18-21, 8-8 Big South) off the board through 5.2 innings.
The Runnin' Bulldogs took advantage of an error in the fourth to take an early lead, as Scott Coleman reached on the miscue - and scored on Brad Collins' RBI double to left center with one out in the inning.
Longwood finally rallied with two outs in the sixth, when cleanup hitter Scott Burkett parked a 1-1 pitch over the wall in left to tie the game. Fraudin worked out of the inning without further damage to keep the game tied.
GWU had a golden opportunity to surge back in front in the top of the seventh, getting a leadoff double from Collins, but the 'Dogs would strand him at third base when Ryan Hodge's line drive to center was caught.
Longwood got a leadoff single from Brandon Delk to lead off the bottom of the seventh, and the Lancers' right fielder stood at third after a sacrifice bunt and a wild pitch. Fraudin recovered to strike out C.J. Roth for the second out of the inning, but Colton Konvicka delivered what would become the game-deciding hit with a single through the left side and a 2-1 lead.
Gardner-Webb had another strong chance to catch up in the eighth, with an error allowing JJ Nazzaro to reach second base to lead off the inning. A walk to Benji Jackson with one out put the go-ahead run on board, and the pair stole themselves into scoring position with two outs. Longwood Closer Aaron Myers got a fly ball to end the inning, however - and the 'Dogs went down in order in the top of the ninth to end the game.
Kyler Morgan (4-4) picked up the win, scattering seven hits and fanning two in 7.0 innings on the mound. He allowed one run and walked one. Myers picked up his eighth save of the season with two scoreless frames.
The Lancers collected 10 hits, with Burkett (2-for-4, HR, RBI) and Konvicka (2-for-3, RBI) leading that charge.
Fraudin (5-4) went the distance for Gardner-Webb, striking out five, coaxing 13 ground ball outs and scattering 10 hits (nine singles). The Upper St. Clair, Pa., sophomore recorded his second complete game of the season and the staff's sixth overall.
Collins (2-for-4, 2 2B, RBI) was the only GWU player with more than one of the team's seven hits. The 'Dogs stranded seven runners in the game.
The two teams will be back in action on Saturday at 4:00 pm, weather permitting.
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