TROY, Ala. - Troy scored six runs in the first three innings, while Gardner-Webb only managed to put five runners in scoring position, as Troy went on to hand GWU a 6-0 shutout loss in Saturday's nightcap.
Troy (11-5)scored its first run in the nightcap on a solo home run by Cole Prestegard to lead off the second inning, before taking control of the contest with a five-run third inning.
GWU (10-6) had its best scoring chance in the fifth inning, a
Eric Jones connected with a base knock through the left side and later advanced to second base on a wild pitch to get within scoring position with one out. A
Mason Fox fly ball caught in foul territory in right field allowed Jones to reach third base with two away, but
Brooks Veal would ground out to end the inning.
Gardner-Webb had another chance at producing runs in the top of the ninth when a passed ball allowed
Mickey Dugan and
Patrick Price each reach scoring position with two outs with
Chandler Redmond due up, but the junior slugger hit a ground ball to the second baseman to end the game.
The Trojans had seven hits throughout the game, with Prestegard (1-for-3, HR, RBI, 2 runs) leading the way.
The Diamond 'Dogs managed just five base hits, led by
Taber Mongero, who was 2-for-3 for the evening.
Max Newton (1-0) earned the win for the Trojans, scattering four base hits among six scoreless innings with three strikeouts. Zack Lightsey, Levi Thomas, and Rush Hixon each worked a scoreless frame to wrap up the contest.
Isaac Campbell (2-1) took his first loss of 2018, surrendering six runs, three earned, in three innings of work. The sophomore left-hander gave up four base hits and fanned a pair of batters.
Aaron Stewart tossed two perfect innings, allowing no base runners with one strikeout, and
Jarrett Thompson finished the game on the mound for GWU, working the final three innings, giving up no runs on three base hits with a pair of strikeouts.
The Runnin' Bulldogs will remain on the road for their next two contests, taking on UMass Lowell in Durham, N.C. on Tuesday. March 13 at 4:00 pm before facing North Carolina on Wednesday, March 14 at 4:00 pm in Chapel Hill, N.C.
