BOILING SPRINGS – Taylor Fisher dashed around the bases for the winning run after a failed pickoff attempt at first, delivering Gardner-Webb a 2-1 walk-off win over Cornell Sunday.
Gardner-Webb (6-1) won its sixth in a row, scoring one run in each of the final two innings to rally.
Sam Fulginiti led off the bottom of the ninth and was hit by the first pitch he saw, a low and inside offering from Cornell reliever Matt Horton. Fisher was inserted as a pinch runner and took off for second three pitches into the at bat – Horton was throwing to first on the play, but his pickoff attempt sailed high and wide into a deep corner in foul territory.
Fisher rounded second and was waved home when the ball rattled near the bullpen fence. The throw was well off and not in time, as he slid in easily for the game winner.
It was the third one-run win of the series by Gardner-Webb over the Big Red (0-3).
Cornell appeared to have the momentum, and offensive production, needed for a narrow win of its own in the top of the eighth. Gardner-Webb starter Jeremy Walker, who was outstanding through 7.0 shutout innings, ran into trouble in the eighth after leadoff man Jamie Smith reached on a fielding error.
Smith moved to second on a sacrifice bunt and after Walker rebounded with a strikeout, Frankie Padulo poked a 1-2 pitch into left field to load the bases. Leadoff man Dan Morris drove the first pitch he saw up the middle for an RBI single and a 1-0 lead.
Southpaw specialist Stephen Gilmore got the call from the bullpen for Gardner-Webb, and got Jordan Winawer to foul out to third base – stranding the bases full of Cornell runners.
Gardner-Webb wasted little time tying the game. Tyler Best legged out an infield single, stole second base and scored on Henry Rundio's one-out single to left. Rundio swiped second to move into scoring position, but was left there after a strikeout and a line drive to left field ended the inning.
The Runnin' Bulldogs went to the pen once more and redshirt freshman Wil Sellers answered the call, working through a perfect top of the ninth to give Gardner-Webb a chance to win in the bottom half. The Kings Mountain, N.C., native fanned the final batter he faced on four pitches – and needed just 12 pitches to get through the frame.
That set the stage for Gardner-Webb's unusual rally to win the game. The error was Cornell's lone defensive miscue of the game.
Sellers (1-0) picked up the relief win for Gardner-Webb with his clutch inning of work. Walker earned a no decision, not allowing an earned run in 7.2 innings of work. He scattered four singles, struck out seven and walked just one batter to continue a strong early sophomore campaign.
Gardner-Webb had six hits in the game, with Rundio (2-for-4, SB, RBI) and Best (2-for-3, 2B, run, SB) doing the majority of that damage. Ryan Hodge (1-for-4) and Simmons (1-for-4) also had hits for GWU.
Cornell got another strong start on the mound Sunday, this time from righty Kellen Urbon, who allowed just four hits and struck out four in 5.0 scoreless frames. Eric Upton came on for 2.1 innings of relief, allowing one run on two hits and Horton (0-1) took the hard-luck loss out of the pen.
The Big Red had four hits Sunday, getting one safety each from Morris (1-for-4), Winawer (1-for-4), Scorza (1-for-4) and Padulo (1-for-3).
Gardner-Webb will be back in action on Wednesday, hitting the road for the first time at USC Upstate. First pitch is set for 4:00 pm in Spartanburg, S.C.
The Runnin' Bulldogs return home on February 27, opening a three-game series against Valparaiso at 5:00 pm on Friday.
