BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – Chandler Redmond hit a solo home run to right field with two outs in the bottom of the tenth inning to lift Gardner-Webb to a 4-3 walk-off win over Longwood on Saturday afternoon.
The Runnin' Bulldogs (15-16, 4-4 Big South) scored four unanswered runs to rally for the victory, the team's second comeback win in as many days over the Lancers (10-19, 3-5 Big South).
Longwood jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the fourth inning. Joey Mendez would lead off the frame with a single to center field, and would adance to second on a sacrifice bunt by Antwaun Tucker. Ryan Schull would hit a base knock to right field to drive in Mendez, which was followed by a double to center field by Sammy Miller to put runners on second and third with two outs. Brandon Harvell would step up, hitting a base knock up the middle of the infield to drive in both runs.
Gardner-Webb would score its first run of the day in the bottom of the sixth inning. Mickey Dugan would lead off with a stand up double that was sent down the left field line. Later in the inning, Justin Kunz would drive home Dugan on a double to left field to put the Runnin' Bulldogs on the board.
GWU would score an additional run in the seventh inning as Luke Kaesmeyer would fly out deep into left field to score Redmond, who led off the frame with a double to center field.
The Diamond 'Dogs would tie the game in the bottom of the eighth inning. Danny Sullivan would get on base after being hit by a pitch and would advance to third base after a single to right field by Kunz. Gage Parham would follow up with a base hit to left field that would score Sullivan to set the score at 3-3.
Gardner-Webb reliever Wil Sellers would hold off the Lancers in the final two innings, helping set up Redmond's walk-off blast in the tenth – his seventh home run of the season.
Sellers (3-2) picked up the win, allowing just one base hit in two innings of work while recording three strikeouts. Bradley Hallman lasted 6.0 innings in the no decision, allowing three runs on 13 hits with three strikeouts. Tyler Johnson and Jarrett Thompson each hurled a scoreless inning in relief.
Gardner-Webb tallied 14 base hits throughout the day, with Redmond (3-for-5, HR, 2-runs) and Parham (3-for-5, RBI) leading the way. Collin Thacker (2-for-5), Mason Fox (2-for-4), and Kunz (2-for-5, 2B, RBI) also had multiple hits on the day.
Reliever Eric Harp (0-1) was saddled with the loss for Longwood, allowing just one hit, the walk-off home run. Starter Steven Farkas lasted 6.0 innings, allowing one run on eight hits with six strikeouts. Devin Gould allowed two runs on five hits in 2.2 innings of relief.
The Lancers had 17 hits in the game, with Harvell (4-for-5, 2-RBI) leading that charge.
The two teams will wrap up the series on Sunday afternoon at 2:00 pm. The contest will air live on the Big South Network (www.bigsouthsports.com).
