BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – Gardner-Webb collected 10 hits Wednesday night, but left nine men on base and had four errors in a 7-2 loss to USC Upstate at John Henry Moss Stadium/Bill Masters Field.
The Runnin' Bulldogs (17-16) lost their fourth game in a row and fell to 1-9 over the last 10 games on the home turf.
Scott Johnson's RBI double in the fourth drove home Will Canady to put Gardner-Webb up 2-1, but USC Upstate (11-22) responded with two runs in the top of the fifth to seize control of the game for good.
Daniel Fickas' RBI double drove home Cody Brittain and Sam Kysor plated Fickas with a two-out single for a 3-2 lead. The Spartans used a two-out rally in the seventh to put the game out of reach, as Eric Samples doubled to center and scored when Kysor struck out – but reached on a passed ball. An error and walk loaded the bases, then Stephen Dowling delivered a two-run single to center that pushed Upstate's lead to 6-2.
Reliever Wil Sellers recovered with a strikeout to end the inning, but Gardner-Webb wouldn't be able to catch up.
The Runnin' Bulldogs collected a pair of hits in the bottom of the seventh, but stranded both men. GWU struck out six times over the final two innings, as Upstate's bullpen was effective protecting the cushion.
Johnson coaxed a two-out walk in the ninth, and moved into scoring position on a Tyler Best single, but the Spartans' Richie Lacell ended the game with a strikeout.
Jeremy Walker took the loss, allowing three runs on six hits through 5.0 innings of work. He fanned four and walked one in just his second loss of the season. GWU used four relievers to close out the game.
Best (2-for-5) and Sam Fulginiti (2-for-4) led Gardner-Webb at the plate, as eight different batters collected at least one of the team's 10 hits.
Dylan Parker (2-1) picked up the win for Upstate, going 6.0 innings and allowing just one earned run on seven hits. Parker fanned five and did not issue a walk. Relievers Eric Birklund and Lacell each fanned three batters in an inning of scoreless relief to close the game.
The Spartans also had 10 hits, with Fickas (3-for-5, 2 runs, RBI), Kysor (2-for-3, 2 RBI) and Dowling (2-for-5, 2 RBI) leading the way.
Gardner-Webb will turn its attention back to Big South play this weekend, traveling to Charleston Southern for a Friday-Saturday-Sunday series in the Low Country. First pitch Friday night is set for 6:00 pm.
