Diamond 'Dogs Fall 9-0 To Furman Wednesday Night
April 30, 2014 | Baseball
BOILING SPRINGS - Furman scored four runs in the third inning and four more in the seventh to power a 9-0 win over Gardner-Webb Wednesday night at John Henry Moss Stadium / Bill Masters Field.
The Paladins (18-25) dropped the first three games of the four-game season series to Gardner-Webb (19-24) in March. Wednesday's game was originally scheduled for Greenville, but weather in early March forced an adjustment to the schedule.
The game marked just the third time Gardner-Webb has been shut out this season, but the second time in the past three games.
The Runnin' Bulldogs had a golden chance to take an early lead, but could not push a run across in the second - despite loading the bases with one out. Gardner-Webb would not mount another serious offensive threat in the game.
Furman took advantage a half inning later, loading the bases by sandwiching a pair of walks around a single. The Paladins took advantage, getting an RBI roller through the left side from Jake Jones, sacrifice flies from Greg Harrison and Alex Abrams and an RBI double from Chris Ohmstede to take a 4-0 lead.
The Paladins threatened again with two sharp singles in the fifth, but Alex Newman saved two runs with a diving catch in centerfield to end the inning.
After Furman surged in front, Paladins starter Matthew Quarles settled in on the mound. The freshman righty retired nine in a row, beginning in the third - rolling seven ground balls and getting pair of shallow pop flies during that stretch.
Furman pushed its lead to 5-0 with a run in the sixth, and put the game away in the seventh.
The Paladins got singles from Jones and Harrison to lead off the seventh, and a walk to load the bases. Abrams followed with a two-run single to make the score 7-0. A wild pitch moved Ohmstede and Abrams into scoring position with one out and - after a strikeout - Davis came through with a two-run single that fell in left to give Furman a comfortable 9-0 lead.
Quarles (2-2) picked up the win, hurling 5.0 shutout innings with only four hits allowed.
Furman pounded out 15 hits in the game, with two apiece from Jones (2-for-4, 2 runs, RBI), Harrison (2-for-3, 2B, RBI), Ohmstede (2-for-3, run, RBI), Simpson (2-for-4, run), Davis (2-for-3, 2 RBI) and Kinsley (2-for-5, run).
Jeremy Walker (3-1) took his first loss of the season, allowing four runs - the first allowed for the freshman - in 5.0 innings of work. The Advance, N.C., righty scattered six hits and fanned two batters.
Gardner-Webb had five different players with one hit each. The 'Dogs had just one hit over the final seven innings.
The Runnin' Bulldogs hit the road on Friday night to battle Campbell in a key Big South Conference matchup. The game will air live on ESPNU at 6:00 pm as the Big South Game of the Week.
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