BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – A three-run home run by Chandler Redmond with one out in the bottom of the ninth gave Gardner-Webb a 7-6 win over UNC Asheville on Saturday afternoon.
Gardner-Webb (24-28, 11-13 Big South) would draw two straight walks with one away from UNC Asheville (23-30, 11-13 Big South) reliever Chris Troost. Asheville would then put Carmine Pagano on the mound to face Redmond, who sent the second pitch he saw well over the fence in center field.
It was Redmond's 15th home run of the year, and his second walk-off home run of the season, the first coming in a 4-3 win in ten innings over Longwood on April 8.
The Runnin' Bulldogs would scratch first, as Matt Simmons would belt a RBI double to right field, plating Mickey Dugan, who would reach on a base hit to left field earlier in the frame.
UNC Asheville would take the lead in the fourth inning. After loading the bases on a hit by pitch and two walks, Joe Tietjen and Justin Woods would each draw bases-loaded from Gardner-Webb reliever Taylor Goodwin. A fielding error by second baseman Mickey Dugan on a ground ball from Kyle Carruthers would score two more runs to give Asheville a 4-1 lead.
UNC Asheville would increase its lead to 5-1 in the top of the sixth on a leadoff home run by Brandon Lankford.
GWU would answer in the bottom of the sixth. Danny Sullivan would lead off with a base hit to right field, followed by a double to right field by Redmond to put runners on second and third with no outs. Sullivan would score on a wild pitch from Troost, and a sacrifice fly from Dugan to deep center field would allow Redmond to score to set the score a 5-3.
UNC Asheville would add a run in the top of the eighth inning on a RBI single by Carmine Pagano.
The Runnin' Bulldogs would erase that run in the bottom of the eighth on a RBI single to right field by Mason Fox.
Wil Sellers (4-3) earned the win for Gardner-Webb, tossing the final 2.0 innings, allowing one run on one hit with one strikeout. Starter Isaac Campbell lasted 4.2 innings, allowing two earned runs on one base hit with two strikeouts.
The Runnin' Bulldogs had ten base hits on the day, led by Redmond (2-for-5, 2B, HR, 3 RBI) and Fox (2-for-3, RBI).
Pagano (0-1) took the loss for UNC Asheville, allowing the winning run. Carruthers tossed 5.0 innings in the start, allowing three runs on seven hits.
Gardner-Webb now prepares for the 2017 Big South Conference Baseball Championship, beginning Tuesday in Lexington, S.C. The Runnin' Bulldogs finished Big South play with a 11-13 record, tied for fifth place with Radford and UNC Asheville. By virtue of tiebreakers, GWU was seeded seventh and will play No. 2 Liberty at 9:30 am to open the tournament. Live video will be provided by the Big South Network (www.bigsouthsports.com).
