Diamond 'Dogs Drop Series Opener At High Point, 3-1, Friday Night
May 11, 2013 | Baseball
The Runnin' Bulldogs (24-23-1, 8-10 Big South) got another solid start from sophomore righty Matt Fraudin, who scattered seven hits (six singles) and fanned five in 7.0 innings of work - but stranded eight runners and hit into three costly double plays - including rally-dampening plays to end both the sixth and seventh innings.
Gardner-Webb got a pair of singles to lead off the sixth with High Point (25-25, 11-8 Big South) holding onto a 2-0 lead - but Panthers' starter Jacob Newberry rolled a double play to end the inning. GWU got another man on board in the seventh, but Newberry coaxed another double play to end the frame.
High Point got an RBI fielder's choice in the bottom of the seventh to go up 3-0, and the Runnin' Bulldogs would not be able to mount a comeback.
A walk and an error brought the tying run to the plate with one out in the eighth for Gardner-Webb, and John Harris cut the lead to 3-1 with a two-out, RBI single. The Panthers bullpen would halt the advance from there, retiring the next four batters in order to end the game.
The Runnin' Bulldogs collected nine hits to the Panthers eight in the game and both teams stranded eight. Scott Johnson raised his season average to .306 with a 2-for-4 effort at the plate, and Danny Yelverton also finished with a 2-for-4 night.
Fraudin (6-5) took another hard-luck loss on the mound. Conner Scarborough came on to hurl a scoreless eighth inning in his hometown.
High Point's Newberry, a senior, improved to 4-2 with a strong effort on the mound. He lasted 7.1 innings, pitched well around eight singles and fanned five (two walks) with only one run allowed. Joe Goodman picked up his third save of the season with 1.1 scoreless innings.
Adam Barry led the Panthers' offense, going 3-for-4 with a run scored.
Both teams will get back to action Saturday night at 6:00 pm.
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