BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – Gardner-Webb hit five extra base hits in the first game of today's doubleheader to earn a 10-8 win over Liberty, but fell in the nightcap by a 17-4 score.
Gardner-Webb now sits at 20-19 overall and 8-7 in Big South play, while Liberty is now 23-15 overall and 9-6 in league play.
GAME ONE
A two-run home run by
Chandler Redmond in the bottom of the seventh propelled the Runnin' Bulldogs to a 10-8 win over Liberty in the first game of today's doubleheader.
The Flames tied the game at 8-8 in the top of the seventh on a RBI double down the left field line by D.J. Artis.
Collin Thacker would lead off the bottom half of the frame with a base hit through the left side of the field and would advance to second on a groundout by
Danny Sullivan.
Redmond would then send the first pitch he saw from Liberty reliever Cody Gamble well past the right field fence to give the Runnin' Bulldogs a 10-8 advantage. It was the second home run of the game for Redmond and his tenth of the season.
GWU reliever Jarrett Thompson would keep the Flames off of the scoreboard throughout the remaining two innings to seal the game.
Gardner-Webb had 14 base hits throughout the game, led by Redmond (3-for-4, 2 HR, 3 RBI, 3-runs) and Paul Trick (3-for-5, 2 2B, 4 RBI, run). Sullivan also hit his Big South best twelfth home run of the season.
Thompson (3-0) earned the win for Gardner-Webb, tossing 3.1 innings in relief, allowing one run on two hits with three strikeouts. Starter Bradley Hallman lasted 5.2 innings, allowing seven runs on eight hits with one strikeout.
Liberty had ten base hits, led by Sammy Taormina (3-for-5, 2B, HR, 6 RBI, 2-runs).
Gamble (1-2) took the loss for the Flames, tossing 2.0 innings while allowing two runs on two hits. Caleb Evans lasted 6.0 innings in the no-decision, allowing eight runs on 12 base hits with one strikeout.
GAME TWO
Gardner-Webb surrendered eight runs in the top of the fifth inning to Liberty to fall by a 17-4 score in the nightcap of Saturday's doubleheader.
The flames hit two home runs in the frame, including a grand slam by Trey McDyre. GWU pitchers walked four batters in the inning, with two bringing in runs.
Gardner-Webb had five base hits throughout the game. Matt Simmons had a two-run double to right field in the third inning, going 1-for-3 for the game. Justin Kunz hit a solo-home run in the bottom of the sixth, his fifth home run of 2017, going 1-for-4 for the game. JD Huggins had a pinch hit appearance in the ninth, in which he tripled to deep right field, and then scored on a throwing error by Liberty shortstop Cam Locklear.
Landon Mitchell (4-3) took the loss for GWU, lasting 3.0 innings while allowing three runs on four hits. The Runnin' Bulldogs used a total of seven pitchers, who combined to walk a total of 16 batters.
Liberty had 12 hits in the game, with McDyre (3-for-5, HR, 5 RBI, 2-runs) leading that effort.
Evan Mitchell (5-1) earned the win for the Flames, tossing 8.0 innings, allowing three runs on four hits with three strikeouts.
Gardner-Webb returns to action on Wednesday evening, hosting Furman at 7:00 pm.
