BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – Gardner-Webb collected 11 hits Friday afternoon, but first-place Radford surged ahead in the middle innings before holding off the Runnin' Bulldogs, 9-5.
Gardner-Webb (17-14, 5-6 Big South) lost its fourth league game in a row – all at John Henry Moss Stadium/Bill Masters Field. The Runnin' Bulldogs have dropped a surprising seven of their last eight on the home turf.
The 'Dogs used some trickery to take a 1-0 lead in the first. Ryan Hodge beat a two-out, infield single and moved to third on a nicely placed single into right field by Sam Fulginiti. Fulginiti then pulled off a fake steal and Hodge dashed home before Radford could tag Fulginiti in the run down for a 1-0 advantage.
Radford caught a break in the third after Gardner-Webb starter Matt Fraudin recorded his second strikeout to start the inning. Strike three got to the backstop, allowing Brad Keen to reach. Chris Coia followed with a single to put men on the corners, and Matt Simmons came up with a great defensive play to keep the lead – stabbing Josh Gardiner's high chopper behind the bag at third and throwing Keen out at the plate.
The Highlanders (18-11, 7-1 Big South) took advantage of some control problems from there, however, coaxing two consecutive walks to tie the game. Shane Johnsonbaugh walked on four pitches to drive home Coia. A botched squeeze play ended the inning with a 1-1 tie intact.
Radford scored twice in the fourth to take the lead for good, taking advantage of three costly miscues by the 'Dogs. After a strikeout to start the inning, Hunter Higgerson doubled, then moved to third when Danny Hrbek struck out but reached on a passed ball.
A sacrifice squeeze attempt two pitches later went awry defensively for GWU, with the throw to first sailing into right field – the first of two errors on the play. Both Higgerson and Hrbek scored on the play for a 3-1 Radford lead.
The Highlanders scored three runs on five hits in the fifth to create some cushion and Gardner-Webb got one run back in the bottom half of that same inning – getting a leadoff double from Matt Simmons and an RBI single from Tyler Best to trim the lead to 6-2.
Radford added runs in the sixth and eighth innings to go up 8-2, but Gardner-Webb had one last rally in store.
Henry Rundio greeted the bullpen by lining the first pitch he saw into center field for a leadoff single and Hodge outran an infield single in the hole at short to put men on the corners. Fulginiti followed with a sharp RBI single to center and Hodge moved all the way to third on a fielding error in the outfield.
A call to the bullpen and a strikeout slowed the rally, but Scott Johnson dropped an RBI single into left to keep the pressure on and cut the lead to 8-4. Simmons followed with a single to center that loaded the bases – and Brantley Smith nearly tied the game four pitches later. The Indian Trail, N.C., senior belted a fastball deep to left center, but the 22 mph winds were blowing across the field and held the ball up at the warning track. Fulginiti trotted home on the sacrifice fly to cut the lead to 8-5 and a fielder's choice one batter later ended the inning.
Higgerson scored an insurance run for Radford in the top of the ninth, reaching on a passed ball after striking out and moving to second on a wild pitch. He was bunted over to third by Hrbek, then scored on a squeeze bunt by Aaron Scoville for a 9-5 lead.
Radford reliever Kyle Palmer, who came on in the eighth to stop Gardner-Webb's rally, finished the job by retiring the 'Dogs in order in the ninth for his first save of the season.
Fraudin (3-3) took the loss, allowing four earned runs (six runs) on seven hits in 5.0 innings of work. The Upper St. Clair, Pa., senior fanned eight batters and walked two. Beau Hilton, Andrew Massey and Ryan Boelter finished the game, with Massey and Boelter not allowing an earned run in the final three innings.
The 'Dogs were led at the plate by Rundio (2-for-4, run, SB), Hodge (2-for-5, 2 runs), Fulginiti (2-for-4, run, RBI) and Simmons (2-for-4, 2B, run). Best (1-for-5, RBI), Johnson (1-for-4, RBI) and Collin Thacker (1-for-2) also had hits for Gardner-Webb.
Radford starter Dylan Nelson (4-2) got the win, allowing just two runs on six hits in 7.0 innings. He fanned four and walked one, throwing 100 pitches on the day. Travis McQueen came on in the eighth, but was pulled after allowing three runs on three hits. Tyler Swarmer came on to retire one in the eighth, and Palmer came on to close the deal with 1.2 innings of perfect relief work.
Coia had a sizzling day in the nine hole for the Highlanders, going 4-for-4 with three runs scored. Gardiner (2-for-4, run) and Higgerson (2-for-5, 2B, 2 runs, RBI) also had multiple hits. Josh Reavis drove in three runs on the afternoon.
The two teams will wrap up the series on Saturday afternoon. First pitch is set for 2:00 pm.
