BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – Gardner-Webb rapped out 11 hits and starter Brad Haymes fanned eight in 6.0 innings of work to key a 7-1 win over Buffalo Saturday in the first of two games for the 'Dogs.
Haymes (1-0) did not allow an earned run and scattered four hits in just his second career start. The team's top closer last season used a variety of pitches to get through the Bulls (0-2), with a low 90s fastball helping the Chatham, Va., junior record eight strikeouts with just one walk.
Gardner-Webb (1-1) scored single runs in the first and third to take an early lead over the Bulls, taking advantage of a walk and two singles in the bottom of the first.
Henry Rundio coaxed a full count, then a walk to lead off that frame and moved to third on a sharp single through the right side by Ryan Hodge. Sam Fulginiti followed with an RBI knock to left and teamed with Hodge on a double steal to put two men in scoring position with one away.
Buffalo starter Ben Hartz avoided further damage, getting a strikeout and a shallow fly ball to end the inning.
Fulginiti was at the root of another rally for GWU in the third, reaching on a two-out error and hustling around all the way from first to score on Collin Thacker's double to right for a 2-0 lead.
Gardner-Webb pushed the lead to 5-0 in the fifth, scoring three runs on five hits. Paul Trick led off with a single down the left field line and moved up a base on Rundio's rope to center. Hodge drove Trick home with a double to left center, working a 10-pitch at bat into a productive swing. Hodge fouled off seven consecutive pitches before getting a pitch he could drive into the gap.
After Hartz recorded a strikeout, Thacker delivered another big hit, ripping a two-run single up the middle against a drawn in middle infield for a 5-0 advantage. A single by Johnson kept the rally alive, but the Bulls' bullpen got out of the jam with two men left stranded.
Buffalo leadoff man Nick Sinay led of the sixth with a double and moved to third on a long fly ball to right field. With two outs, Gardner-Webb hurler Brad Haymes recorded a swinging strikeout that appeared to end the threat, but the ball slipped away on a passed ball and Sinay trotted home for the Bulls' first run of the game.
Gardner-Webb catcher Thacker erased the runner at first quickly, throwing out Chris Kwitzer on a steal attempt at second for the third out.
The Runnin' Bulldogs added two insurance runs in the eighth for the final margin. Two hit batters and a wild pitch were contributing factors, moving both pinch runner Taylor Fisher and Matt Simmons into scoring position with one out.
Tyler Best delivered, roping a two-run single past a drawn-in infield for a 7-1 lead.
Closer Ryan Boelter worked a perfect ninth, fanning two in his first appearance with the Runnin' Bulldogs.
In addition to Haymes' strong effort, Gardner-Webb's bullpen tossed 3.0 scoreless innings. Bradley Hallman struck out one in his inning of work and Andrew Massey worked a perfect eighth on just 11 pitches.
Rundio (3-for-4, 2 runs), Hodge (2-for-5, 2B, RBI) and Thacker (2-for-4, 2B, 3 RBI) paced Gardner-Webb's offense. Fulginiti (1-for-4, RBI) and Best (1-for-2, 2 RBI) also had productive days at the plate.
Hartz (0-1) took the loss for the Bulls, allowing eight hits and four earned runs in 4.2 innings pitched.
Buffalo had five hits in the game, with leadoff man Nick Sinay continuing his hot start by going 2-for-4 with a double and his fourth stolen base of the season.
The two teams will meet again at 1:00 pm Sunday at John Henry Moss Stadium / Bill Masters Field.
