BOILING SPRINGS – Wofford plated three runs in the top of the 11th and stranded three Gardner-Webb runners in the bottom half to drop the Runnin' Bulldogs, 8-5, Saturday afternoon.
Gardner-Webb (10-4) lost its third in a row, despite rallying for two runs in the bottom of the ninth to tie the game.
Wofford (11-4) scored two runs in the sixth to break a 1-1 tie, getting a two-run single from Matt Pelt with one out. A leadoff double by Alec Paradowski and a double from Matt Ramsay put two Terriers in scoring position and Pelt's timely hit produced runs.
Gardner-Webb responded with two runners in the bottom of the sixth, but a pair of strikeouts ended the threat – and Wofford extended the lead to 4-2 in the seventh. Paradowski singled up the middle and scored on an RBI triple by Ramsay.
The Runnin' Bulldogs managed just one hit over the next two innings, but mounted a charge in the ninth.
Wofford relief ace Will Stillman had control problems early, walking Tyler Best on five pitches. J.D. Huggins followed with a single through the right side and Will Canady legged out an infield single to load the bases with nobody out.
Matt Simmons stepped in the box and ripped an 0-2 pitch, but the hard grounder was gloved for a 4-6-3 double play that dampened the Gardner-Webb rally. Best scored on the play to trim the lead to one run, however, and Huggins moved to third.
Stillman uncorked a wild pitch that scooted to the backstop with Evan Hyett at the plate, and Huggins chugged home to tie the game. A strikeout sent the game to extra innings.
A sacrifice fly from Demetrius Jennings in the top of the 10th put Wofford back on top, after Plaisted walked and Pelt singled to left. Both men executed a double steal to get into scoring position. Reliever Ryan Boelter got out of the inning with an infield pop up and Gardner-Webb answered in the bottom half.
Henry Rundio led off with a triple down the right field line and Collin Thacker followed with a one-out double off the base of the fence in left center to tie the game. A hard grounder up the middle by Sam Fulginiti was snagged by Wofford reliever Spencer Kulman and Thacker was caught in a run down for the second out of the inning. Tyler Best lined out to right to end the inning.
The Terriers' Carson Waln coaxed a full count walk to lead off the 11th inning and Gardner-Webb went to the pen. A sacrifice bunt moved Waln to second and pinch hitter Mack Nathanson delivered a clutch, one-out single up the middle for a 6-5 Terrier lead.
A single by Paradowski put runners at the corners, but a squeeze play was thwarted at the plate for the second out. Plaisted gave Wofford a pair of insurance runs when he lifted a two-out, two-run double to center. A line drive by Pelt to right ended the rally, but the Terriers had a comfortable three-run lead.
Huggins led off with a single in an attempt to ignite another GWU rally and a double by Matt Simmons put two in scoring position and brought the tying run to the plate. Kulman fanned Hyett for the second out, but walked Rundio to bring the winning run to the dish.
Kulman recorded another strikeout to end the game.
The two teams combined for three solo home runs through the first four innings, taking advantage of a strong wind blowing out to right field. Thacker lofted his first home run of the season to right for a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first, but Paradowski followed with a solo shot of his own in the third to tie the score.
Ryan Hodge hit his second home run of the season in the fourth for a 2-1 Gardner-Webb lead.
Boelter (0-1) took the loss, allowing one run on one hit and a walk in 0.2 innings of relief work. Matt Fraudin had a no decision start for the first time this season, scattering six hits and four runs through 7.0 innings with five strikeouts. GWU used five pitchers on the day.
The Runnin' Bulldogs out-hit Wofford 12-11, but struck out a season-high 17 times at the plate and stranded nine runners. Thacker (3-for-4, HR, 2B, 2 RBI), Fulginiti (2-for-5) and Huggins (2-for-3, run) led that offensive effort.
Kulman (3-1) picked up the relief win, allowing two hits in 1.2 scoreless innings of work. Starter Luke Leftwitch was outstanding in a no decision, scattering six hits and allowing just two runs in 8.0 innings – and fanning 13 Gardner-Webb batters (no walks).
Paradowski (3-for-4, HR, RBI, 4 runs) paced Wofford's 11-hit attack at the plate.
Gardner-Webb will visit Wofford to close out the weekend series on Sunday. First pitch is scheduled for 2:00 pm at Russell C. King Field.
