CLINTON, S.C. – Erik Heiligenstadt tossed a complete-game, four-hit shutout Saturday to lead Gardner-Webb to a 6-0 win over Presbyterian in the Big South Conference opener for both squads.
Heiligenstadt's gem was the fifth complete-game effort and fourth shutout of his career – with his shutout total the second-best in Gardner-Webb history.
The Forest, Va., southpaw allowed two singles in the first and another in the third, then retired 11 Blue Hose batters in a row before allowing a one-out single in the seventh inning. That hit was erased one batter later by a 6-3 double play. Heiligenstadt (2-1) then retired the final six batters he faced in order to close out the win. He faced just three batters over the minimum, fanned eight (no walks) and recorded 10 ground ball outs.
Heiligenstadt threw 105 pitches to get through the game and lowered his season ERA to 2.32 in his fifth start of 2015.
Gardner-Webb (11-7, 1-0 Big South) struck for three runs with two outs in the third inning to seize momentum. A one-out single by Taylor Fisher started things, and Ryan Hodge reached with two outs when he was hit by a pitch.
Collin Thacker drove in two runs with an RBI double, then scored himself on an RBI single up the middle by Sam Fulginiti for a 3-0 lead.
Hodge led off the fifth inning with a double to right, then scored on a sacrifice squeeze bunt by Fulginiti for a 4-0 lead.
Tyler Best legged out an infield hit to lead off the sixth, moved to second on Scott Johnson's sacrifice bunt and scampered to third on a failed pickoff attempt. Fisher laid down another squeeze bunt that worked well, scoring Best for a 5-0 lead.
A two-out error in the eighth allowed Matt Simmons to reach base, and Henry Rundio made the mistake costly when he ripped a double to right for a 6-0 Gardner-Webb lead.
Presbyterian (13-5) got one hit apiece from Jay Lizanich (1-for-4), Peter Johnson (1-for-4), Cam McRae (1-for-3) and Rob Koski (1-for-3).
Beau Dees (2-1) was tagged with the loss after allowing nine hits, five runs (four earned) with four strikeouts in 6.0 innings of work. Trey Hayes (2.0 innings) and Michael Trebendis (1.0 inning) finished the game for the Blue Hose.
Gardner-Webb rapped out 12 hits in the game, with Fulginiti (2-for-4, 2 RBI), Thacker (2-for-5, 2B, 2 RBI) and Fisher (2-for-2, run) pacing that solid attack. Nine different men collected at least one hit for the Diamond 'Dogs in a balanced offensive day.
The two teams will meet again on Sunday, taking the field at 1:00 pm in Clinton, S.C. The game will live on The Big South Network (bigsouthsports.com).
