BOILING SPRINGS – Tyler Best had two hits and two RBI and Gardner-Webb got another strong outing from starter Matt Fraudin to power a 5-1 win over Valparaiso Saturday afternoon.
The win was the eighth in a row for Gardner-Webb (8-1). The two teams will close out the series on Sunday, with first pitch set for 1:00 pm.
Fraudin (3-0) worked 6.0 shutout innings, scattering three hits and fanning eight batters. The Upper St. Clair, Pa., senior has tossed 23.0 consecutive shutout innings, dating back to final three frames of last season's Big South Tournament.
Gardner-Webb jumped out front in the second inning when Tyler Best singled and stole second base with one out. Scott Johnson drove Best home with a sharp single to right and advanced to second on a throwing error.
Blair Huggins followed with a rope to left field, plating Johnson for a 2-0 lead. Valpo starter Ryan Fritze walked the next batter, but got a pop up to end the inning.
The 'Dogs got a leadoff single from Collin Thacker to start the third and a one-out double to the opposite field from Sam Fulginiti. A squeeze play saw Thacker break for home and score with the pitch bounced in the turf.
Best followed with a sacrifice fly to drive in Fulginiti for a 4-0 advantage.
Gardner-Webb took advantage of a fielding error to score an insurance run in the seventh. Thacker reached on that throwing error and scored on a one-out single up the box by Best for a 5-0 advantage.
The Crusaders (0-5) finally got on the board in the ninth when Dustin Beasley belted a line drive, solo home run over the left field fence to lead off the inning. Reliever Andrew Massey recovered with a strikeout, fly ball and grounder to end the game.
Gardner-Webb managed 12 hits Saturday, getting two apiece from Best (2-for-3, 2 RBI, run, SB), Thacker (2-for-3, 2 runs), Evan Hyett (2-for-3) and Huggins (2-for-4, RBI). Ryan Hodge (1-for-5), Simmons (1-for-4), Fulginiti (1-for-3, 2B, run) and Johnson (1-for-4, RBI, run) also had safeties for the Runnin' Bulldogs.
Mitch Warner came on to hurl 2.0 scoreless innings of relief and Massey closed out the game.
Fritze (0-1) took the loss, allowing four runs (three earned) on nine hits. He struck out six and walked three batters. Connor Kaucic allowed an unearned run in 2.0 innings of work and Zack Walsh worked a scoreless eighth for the Crusaders.
Valparaiso had five hits, with Spencer Mahoney (2-for-3) and Beasley (2-for-4, HR, RBI) collecting all but one. Daniel Delaney (1-for-4) also had a single for Valpo.
Sunday's game will air live on The Big South Network (bigsouthsports.com). Click on GWUSports.com to check on updated information or schedule changes due to wet weather.
