BOILING SPRINGS – UNC Asheville scored two runs in the eighth to break a 3-3 tie and added an insurance run in the ninth to beat Gardner-Webb, 6-3, Saturday afternoon.
The Runnin' Bulldogs (16-11, 5-3 Big South) had their three-game win streak snapped, batting just 3-for-13 on the afternoon with men on base and 1-for-6 with runners in scoring position.
The visiting Bulldogs (13-14, 2-6 Big South) jumped out to a lead before many had settled into their seats at John Henry Moss Stadium/Bill Masters Field. Leadoff hitter Joe Tietjen fell behind 0-2, but worked the count full and belted the sixth pitch of the at bat over the fence in left center for a 1-0 lead.
Gardner-Webb starter Matt Fraudin shook off the hit quickly, however, retiring the next three Bulldogs quickly to get his team into the dugout.
The Runnin' Bulldogs seized the lead, getting three consecutive hits to start the bottom of the first inning. Tyler Best singled up the middle, Ryan Hodge singled to left field and Collin Thacker plated Best with an RBI knock into right to tie the game.
UNC Asheville starter Joe Zayatz caught a break after that hit, with a 6-4-3 double play throwing a major wrench into a potential big inning for Gardner-Webb – despite allowing Hodge to score for a 2-1 lead. A fly ball ended the inning and neither team would scratch again until the fourth.
Both teams stranded runners in the third and UNC Asheville got a single from Tommy Houmard in the fourth before Fraudin stranded him with a strikeout and grounder to first.
Gardner-Webb got an insurance run in the bottom half of the fourth after Matt Simmons rattled a two-out triple into the right field corner. Henry Rundio walked to put two men on and Zayatz uncorked a wild pitch that allowed Simmons to dart home for a 3-1 edge. A strikeout ended the inning with Rundio stranded on second base and Asheville would rally in the sixth to tie the game.
The Bulldogs' Hunter Bryant walked on seven pitches with one out in the frame and Houmard singled to right to put men on the corners. Bryant then scored on a passed ball that resulted in a close play at the plate to trim the lead to 3-2. Fraudin struck out Pete Guy with Houmard on second base, but Tanner Bush rolled a two-out single through the right side – and Houmard got a toe in under the tag at home to tie the score. Fraudin ended the inning with another strikeout.
Jacob Walker led off the bottom of the sixth with a sharp single to left, but was cut down on a fielder's choice. A stolen base attempt was thwarted by UNC Asheville for the second out before back-to-back singles by Scott Johnson and Simmons gave GWU new life. Rundio followed with a hard hit ball to third, which was snagged by Derek Smith to end the threat.
Wil Sellers came on in the seventh and got through the inning with ease, retiring the Bulldogs in order on 12 pitches. UNC Asheville would strike in the eighth, however, touching Sellers for two runs on three hits. A two-out, two-run single up the middle by Eric Connolly provided the lead.
A two-out single by J.D. Huggins in the eighth brought the tying run to the plate for Gardner-Webb, but Scott Johnson's deep drive into left center was caught just shy of the fence to end that inning.
UNC Asheville added an insurance run with two outs in the top of the ninth. A single up the middle by Kyle Towles and a stolen base provided the spark and Bryant's RBI knock to left put the visitors up 6-3.
Closer Nick Shavone came on to retire the Runnin' Bulldogs in order for his sixth save of the season.
Sellers (2-1) was tagged with his first career loss in relief, allowing three runs on five hits in 3.0 innings of work. Fraudin was solid in a no decision start, allowing three runs on six hits and fanning 11 batters in 6.0 innings.
The Runnin' Bulldogs had nine hits, with Best (2-for-4, run) and Simmons (2-for-3, 3B) the lone men with multiple safeties.
Reliever Tyler Hughes (1-0) notched his first career win out of the pen, hurling 2.0 scoreless frames in support of Zayatz – who pitched around eight hits to last 6.0 innings in a no decision.
The Bulldogs had 11 hits, with Tietjen (3-for-5, HR, RBI, run) and Houmard (3-for-5, 2 runs) leading that effort.
The series rubber match will take place Sunday, with first pitch set for 2:00 pm from John Henry Moss Stadium/Bill Masters Field. The game will air live on The Big South Network (bigsouthsports.com), with Fabian Fuentes on the call.
