Runnin' Bulldogs Fall In Ninth Inning At Longwood, 6-5, Saturday
April 20, 2013 | Baseball
Longwood (19-21, 9-8 Big South) rallied for its second late comeback win in two days, delivering three singles in the bottom of the ninth to tie the game. With runners on second and third with two outs, Justin Lacy scooted home for the game winner on a passed ball.
The Runnin' Bulldogs (20-18-1, 7-7 Big South) dropped their fourth game in a row and second in a row by one run.
Gardner-Webb bolted to a quick, 3-0, lead Saturday, getting a pair of runs across in the first and another in the second. Longwood rallied to trim the lead with two runs in the bottom of the second, getting an RBI single from Brandon Delk to get on the board, and cutting the margin to 3-2 when Delk scored on a pitch ruled as a passed ball.
Justin Lacy tied the game in the fourth with a sacrifice fly and Colton Konvicka singled home the go ahead run in the bottom of the fifth for a 4-3 advantage.
Gardner-Webb knotted the score again in the sixth, getting a leadoff double from Brad Collins and an RBI single from Adam Tiller. A double from Henry Rundio with one out in the seventh gave the 'Dogs life again, and Scott Coleman delivered a clutch, two-out single to drive home Rundio for a 5-4 GWU lead that would stand until the ninth inning.
Ryan Hodge walked and moved all the way to third with one out after a sacrifice bunt and wild pitch in the top of the ninth, but would be stranded.
Scott Burkett led off the bottom of the ninth with a single and pinch runner Travis Biddix was quickly moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt. A single by Lacy put runners on the corners, and chased Gardner-Webb starter Andrew Barnett from the game.
Delk greeted reliever Mitch Warner with an RBI single to right, tying the game, forcing Gardner-Webb to go to the pen again quickly. Conner Scarborough came on and got a ground ball, freezing Lacy at third and forcing out a runner at second base.
Lacy then scored the winner with C.J. Roth in the box.
Barnett (2-2) took the mound loss, allowing six runs (four earned) in 8.1 innings of work - the second game in a row a Gardner-Webb starter has hurled at least 8.0 innings. The 'Dogs collected eight hits, with Rundio (2-for-5, 2B), the lone man with multiple safeties.
Longwood got a complete game performance from starter Brandon Vick, who allowed five runs (three earned) with three strikeouts and four walks. The Lancers had nine hits, with Delk (2-for-4, 2 RBI) doing much of the damage.
The two teams will wrap up the series on Sunday at 1:00 pm.
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