BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – Gardner-Webb collected 13 base hits, including nine for extra bases, as the Diamond 'Dogs opened Friday's doubleheader vs. Siena with a 14-5 win.
Gardner-Webb (5-1) had seven doubles, one triple, and one home run on the day, while Siena (0-5) had eight base hits on the day, but just two extra base knocks.
The 'Dogs claimed the lead in the bottom of the third, scoring five times in the frame.
Chris Clary drew a walk to lead off, and was quickly sent across the plate as
Ben LaSpaluto would connect with a RBI triple to center field.
Mickey Dugan followed by reaching on a walk and then reached second on a wild pitch. Back-to-back RBI doubles by
Corey Howard and
Justin Kunz plated three runs, and Kunz would later score on a wild pitch to give GWU a 5-2 lead.
GWU added two runs in the fourth on a RBI double by Dugan that was directly followed by a RBI knock by Howard, and scored once in the fifth as
Chandler Redmond led off the frame with a solo blast to left-center field, his third home run of the season.
Gardner-Webb sealed the game in the bottom of the eighth, scoring six runs on five hits.
Patrick Price led off with a double to deep right field and scored on the next at-bat as Clary connected for a double to left field. Clary later scored on a RBI single by Howard, LaSpaluto was able to score due to a failed pickoff attempt by Siena pitcher Ryan Bellomoto, a RBI infield single by
Eric Jones scored one run, and a double to center field by
Luke Kaesmeyer drove in two runs.
Howard paced the 'Dogs at the plate, going 4-for-5 with a pair of doubles and four RBI. Clary also had a multiple-hit afternoon, going 2-for-2 with a double and one RBI.
Jordan Bishop (2-for-4, 2B) and Phil Madonna (2-for-3, RBI) had multiple hits for the Saints.
Wil Sellers (1-0) earned the win for the Diamond 'Dogs, tossing the final 5.0 innings, allowing no runs while scattering three base hits and fanning three batters. Starter
Mason Fox lasted 4.0 innings, allowing five runs on five hits with three strikeouts.
Tommy Miller (0-2) took the loss for Siena, giving up seven runs on seven base hits in 3.2 innings of work. He also had five strikeouts on the afternoon. Avery Short tossed 3.2 innings in relief, allowing five runs on four base hits, and Bellomo tossed the final 0.2 innings, allowing two runs on two base knocks.
