Gardner-Webb University
James Madison
Haymes' Complete Game Helps @GWUBaseball To 8-2 Win Over James Madison Friday
March 11, 2016 | Baseball
@GWUBaseball | Game InfoGraphic | @BigSouthBase
BOILING SPRINGS – Brad Haymes struck out 10 and went the distance on the mound, as Gardner-Webb used an early burst to beat James Madison, 8-2, Friday.
It was the 16th home win in a row for the Runnin' Bulldogs (15-1), dating back to last season.
Gardner-Webb scored seven runs in the second inning, rapping out seven hits and sending 12 men to the plate. The 'Dogs had six consecutive hits with one out in the inning to get the rally going.
Danny Sullivan ripped a one-out double down the line in left, then moved to third on a single by Patrick Graham through the right side. Blair Huggins followed by slicing a double to right for a 1-0 score and Graham trotted over to third. Evan Hyett went the other way for an RBI single to right, pushing the lead to 2-0 and Mason Fox laced an RBI single to left to drive in Huggins for a 3-0 lead.
Taylor Fisher drove home Hyett with a single to right and Eric Jones made it 5-0 with an RBI sacrifice fly that easily scored Fox from third. Paul Trick was hit by a two-out pitch to put two men on, and Collin Thacker doubled deep to right field for a 7-0 lead.
James Madison (7-7) responded with a pair of runs in the fifth, collecting three hits in the inning. Catcher Zach Tondi legged out an infield single to lead off the frame and Kyle Weston drove him home with a double deep to left center. Tyler Carroll flied out to deep center field, driving home Weston with a sacrifice fly and Chad Carroll followed with a sharp single to left. Haymes settled in from there, however, getting a ground ball to end the inning with his team in front 7-2.
A two-out rally in the bottom of the fifth answered the Dukes. Sullivan doubled again down the left field line and scored on Graham's single to center. Huggins followed with another single to center, but he and Graham were stranded with the 8-2 score in place.
Haymes sat down James Madison in order in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings, retiring 12 batters in a row at one point. He hit a batter with one out in the ninth, but recovered with a strikeout and ground ball to end the game.
It was the first complete-game effort of Haymes' career and came on the heels of an 8.0 inning start last Friday against Rider. The Tightsqueeze, Va., senior has fanned 22 batters with no walks in his last two starts. Haymes (3-0) has fanned 34 batters with only two walks issued in 28.0 innings to date.
Gardner-Webb had 10 hits in the game, with Sullivan (2-for-4, 2 2B, 2 runs), Graham (2-for-4, RBI, run) and Huggins (2-for-3, 2B, RBI, run) leading the way. Fisher (1-for-3), Thacker (1-for-4, 2B, 2 RBI), Hyett (1-for-3 run, RBI) and Fox (1-for-3, run, RBI) also had hits for the 'Dogs. Thacker extended his hitting streak to 16 games with his second-inning double.
James Madison's Aaron Hoover (2-2) took the loss, allowing 10 hits and eight runs in 6.0 innings of work. The southpaw settled down after the second inning outburst, limiting GWU to only three hits the rest of the way.
The Dukes had six hits Friday, with Carroll (2-for-4) collecting a pair and stealing a base from his leadoff spot.
The two teams will play a doubleheader on Saturday, with the first game beginning at 1:00 pm at John Henry Moss Stadium/Bill Masters Field. The games were adjusted due to impending wet weather on Sunday.
