Gardner-Webb University
Delaware State
@GWUBaseball Completes Sweep With 7-1 Win Over Delaware State Sunday Afternoon
February 21, 2016 | Baseball
BOILING SPRINGS – Gardner-Webb rapped out nine hits, including five doubles, to power a 7-1 win over Delaware State Sunday afternoon at John Henry Moss Stadium / Bill Masters Field.
The Runnin' Bulldogs (4-0) completed the sweep of the Hornets, narrowly missing its third consecutive shutout after Delaware State plated a run in the ninth. GWU's pitching staff tossed 24 consecutive shutout innings over the past two days before that ninth-inning tally by the Hornets.
Gardner-Webb took the lead for good in the first, getting back-to-back hits from highly touted freshmen Mason Fox and Eric Jones. Fox led off with a sharp single to center, moved to second on a balk, and Jones ripped an 0-2 pitch through the right side for an early 1-0 lead.
A double by Paul Trick with out out in the third was followed by a Danny Sullivan double to make the score 2-0 – then Collin Thacker singled up the middle and Jacob Walker drove home Sullivan with a sacrifice fly to deep right center.
An infield single by Taylor Fisher in the fourth inning with one out started another rally, with Blair Huggins coming through with a deep double to left center to make it 4-0. A two-out double by Jones drove home Huggins for a 5-0 margin and momentum stayed with Gardner-Webb the rest of the way.
After the Hornets (0-4) recorded a pair of outs in the fifth, control problems led to a run, as the bullpen walked Matt Simmons, plunked Andrew Massey, walked Chandler Redmond and hit Huggins to drive home the sixth run of the day.
Sullivan's second RBI double of the day scored speedy Chris Clary all the way from first in the eighth inning for Gardner-Webb's final run of the afternoon.
The Hornets collected a pair of hits and had a batter reach after being hit by a pitch in the top of the ninth. The second hit of the inning, an RBI double by Chris Panzarella, plated Rich Rountree for the final margin. It marked only the second extra base hit in four games for Delaware State.
Bradley Hallman (1-0) picked up the win, hurling 6.0 shutout innings and allowing just five hits. The sophomore righty fanned seven and walked one in a 71-pitch outing.
Southpaw Ryan Boelter fanned four in 2.0 innings of relief, allowing just one hit. Trick moved from shortstop to the mound for one inning and fanned three batters.
Gardner-Webb's nine hits were spread out, with Jones (2-for-3, 2B, 2 RBI) and Sullivan (2-for-5, 2 2B, 2 RBI) leading the way. Fox (1-for-4, run), Trick (1-for-4, 2B, run), Thacker (1-for-5), Fisher (1-for-2, run) and Huggins (1-for-1, 2B, RBI, run) also collected hits for the 'Dogs on Sunday.
Sullivan played his third, fourth and fifth positions of the weekend on Sunday. The junior college transfer started the game at first, moved to right field midway through the game and played shortstop in the ninth inning. The versatile slugger started at third base on Friday and started at second base in the second game of Saturday's doubleheader.
Delaware State's Darnell Maisonet-Velez (0-1) was tagged with the loss, allowing five runs on eight hits through 5.0 innings.
The Hornets had eight hits in the game, with Kwestin Smith (2-for-3) and Panzarella (2-for-4, 2B, RBI) collecting a pair each.
Gardner-Webb will host Iona next Friday (Feb. 26) at 4:00 pm in the first contest of a four-game series at John Henry Moss Stadium/Bill Masters Field. Friday's game will air live on The Big South Network (bigsouthsports.com).
