Diamond 'Dogs Fall, 6-5, To Longwood In Elimination Game
May 23, 2013 | Baseball
LYNCHBURG, Va. - Gardner-Webb plated a pair of runs in the bottom of the ninth, and had the winning run in scoring position with one out, but fell just short in a 6-5 loss to Longwood in an elimination game at the Big South Conference Tournament.
The Runnin' Bulldogs (29-27-1) fell short of the tournament's semifinals for the first time since 2010. Longwood (26-27) scored three runs in the second and three runs in the fifth to build an early cushion - and GWU's late charge wasn't enough. It was the Lancers' fourth win over GWU this season.
"This was a great game. Our kids played really hard again and fought the entire way," said Gardner-Webb head coach Rusty Stroupe. "My thoughts are with our seniors. Despite the loss today, this group of seniors goes out with more wins than any other class in our Division I history, and I'm very proud of them."
JJ Nazzaro gave Gardner-Webb some hope with a leadoff double in the bottom of the ninth. A groundout by Benji Jackson moved Nazzaro to third and Scott Coleman drew a walk on four pitches to bring the tying run to the plate. An error at third base allowed Brad Collins to reach, and Nazzaro trotted home to trim the lead to 6-4.
John Harris blooped in a single to load the bases, and Henry Rundio legged out an RBI infield single to trim the lead to 6-5 and get the winning run into scoring position. A shallow fly ball left the bases loaded for the second out, and Danny Yelverton's fly ball to center field was tracked down with a basket catch to end the game.
Gardner-Webb jumped on top early. Jackson roped a one-out double off the wall in right in the first inning, and scored on a two-out single up the middle by Collins for an early 1-0 lead.
Longwood got the run back in the top of the second, getting a one-out single from Kyri Washington and a double off the top of the wall from Justin Lacy - a shot that nearly cleared the wall - to even things up. Brandon Delk stepped to the plate next, and belted a two-run homerun off the scoreboard in left center for a 3-1 lead.
Gardner-Webb pulled within a run in the bottom of the third, getting a single from JJ Nazzaro and a two-out double just inside the right field line from Scott Coleman to cut the Lancers' lead to 3-2 before starter Aaron Myers got a line drive out to center from Collins to end the inning.
A leadoff single by Harris and a double off the wall by Rundio to start the bottom of the fourth gave Gardner-Webb a golden chance to pull even, but Myers settled down and struck out the bottom third of the order - all swinging - to get out of the jam. The big righty threw eight consecutive breaking pitches at one point in the stretch.
Longwood pulled away in the fifth, getting back-to-back singles to lead off the frame from Matt Dickason and Scott Burkett. Washington blasted a three-run homerun over the scoreboard in left center for a 6-2 lead, and Gardner-Webb was forced to go to the bullpen for the second time in three innings. Mitch Warner worked out of the jam, rolling a pair of ground balls.
Singles from Nazzaro and Coleman led to a run for Gardner-Webb in the bottom of the fifth. Nazzaro moved to third when a pickoff throw to first was bobbled, and scored on a sacrifice fly to shallow right by Collins. A two-out single from Harris put men at the corners again, but Myers jammed Rundio for a inning-ending grounder.
Gardner-Webb threatened again in the bottom of the sixth with two outs. Ryan Hodge legged out an infield single and Nazzaro walked, and both moved into scoring position on a balk call. Meyers again worked out of the jam, getting a pop up to right to keep the Lancers' lead at 6-3. Hodge and Nazzaro were the seventh and eighth runners left on base by the 'Dogs through six innings.
Conner Scarborough got GWU out of a bases-loaded jam in the seventh, and hurled a scoreless eighth. Jeff Howell came on to pitch the top of the ninth, his school-record 100th career appearance, and struck out a pair to get through the inning unscathed.
Gardner-Webb collected 14 hits in the game, but stranded 12 runners and batted just 4-of-16 with runners in scoring position. Nazzaro (3-for-4, 3 runs), Coleman (2-for-4, RBI), Collins (1-for-4, 3 RBI), Harris (4-for-5) and Rundio (2-for-5, RBI) paced the offensive effort.
Erik Heiligenstadt (5-4) took the loss, allowing three runs on four hits in just 2.0 innings of a tough start. Warner, Scarborough and Howell combined for 4.2 scoreless to keep Gardner-Webb in contention.
Meyers (4-2) went the distance for the win, scattering those 14 hits and pitching out of major trouble several times in the middle innings. He finished with nine strikeouts and two walks, and allowed four earned runs.
Longwood managed 10 hits, with Washington (2-for-4, HR, 3 RBI), Delk (1-for-4, HR, 2 RBI) and Lacy (1-for-3, 2B, RBI) driving in all six runs.
The Lancers survive to face No. 1 seed Campbell on Friday, and must beat the Camels twice to advance to the finals.
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