Gardner-Webb Rolls To 10-0 Win Over Presbyterian In Nightcap
May 16, 2014 | Baseball
CLINTON, S.C. – Gardner-Webb scored three runs in the second inning, three in the fourth and four in the sixth to power a 10-0 win over Presbyterian in the nightcap of Friday's doubleheader.
The Runnin' Bulldogs (24-28, 11-14 Big South) collected three hits in the second to take the lead for good and Scott Johnson walked with one out to start the rally.
Alex Newman singled to left to drive in Johnson for a 1-0 lead Henry Rundio followed with a single to centerfield to put another man on board. Rundio then started a perfectly executed delay steal play, and Newman swiped home for a 2-0 lead.
Jacob Walker made the score 3-0 with an RBI single, before the Blue Hose could get out of the inning.
Newman led off the fourth and reached on a fielding error, and Rundio again followed him with a single. A walk to Collin Thacker loaded the bases, and JJ Nazzaro pushed the lead to 5-0 with a two-run single through the left side.
Ryan Hodge came through with another RBI knock for a 6-0 lead.
The 'Dogs put the game away with a four-run sixth. Thacker led off with a solo home run off the scoreboard in left – the first of his career – for a 7-0 lead.
Walker collected another single and pinch runner Taylor Fisher swiped second. Nazzaro coaxed a walk and Hodge followed with an RBI single for an 8-0 margin. After a Scott Coleman sacrifice fly pushed the lead to 9-0, Johnson drove home Hodge with a single for a 10-0 lead and the final margin.
Erik Heiligenstadt (5-6) picked up the win, hurling 6.0 shutout innings and extending his consecutive innings streak without a run allowed to 15.0 innings. The redshirt junior fanned four and scattered six hits – pitching himself out of a bases-loaded jam in the first inning and cruising from there.
Stephen Gilmore, Will Canady and Beau Hilton – all southpaws – each pitched a scoreless inning to complete the combined shutout. The win was Gardner-Webb's third shutout performance in the past six games.
The 'Dogs had 13 hits in the game, with Nazzaro (2-for-4, 2 RBI), Hodge (2-for-5, 2 RBI) Rundio (2-for-4, 2 runs) and Walker (2-for-3, RBI) leading the charge. Nine different batters collected at least one hit in the game.
Presbyterian starter Aaron Lesiak (1-7) was tagged with the loss, allowing five earned runs in 3.1 innings of action. The Blue Hose (18-34-1, 8-18 Big South) had nine hits in the game, led by Weston Jackson's 2-for-3 effort.
The two teams will wrap up the series on Saturday afternoon. First pitch is set for 1:00 pm in Clinton, S.C.
