CHAPEL HILL, N.C. –
Eric Jones hit a solo home run to lead off the second inning, while the Gardner-Webb pitching staff held North Carolina to just five singles throughout the game as the Runnin' Bulldogs earned a 1-0 shutout win over the Tar Heels on Wednesday afternoon.
Gardner-Webb (11-7) earned its second win of the 2018 season over an Atlantic Coast Conference foe, defeating Wake Forest by an 8-4 score on February 18, and the second win in program history over North Carolina (9-8), the first taking place six years to the day, a 7-4 win on March 14, 2012.
Today's win also snapped a four-game losing skid for the Diamond 'Dogs.
The Tar Heels threatened in the top of the first, loading the bases with two outs on three walks by GWU starter
Mason Fox, but he would end the threat on a groundout back to Fox by Ike Freeman.
Jones gave the Diamond 'Dogs the early 1-0 lead, sending a 0-1 pitch from UNC starter Joey Lancellotti well past the left field fence, his second home run of the 2018 season, to lead off the top of the second inning. Lancellotti would settle down, recording three straight outs to end the frame.
GWU wouldn't have another base runner until the fourth inning, when
Justin Kunz drew a walk to lead off the frame, but the next three GWU batters would record outs to end the inning.
North Carolina had a pair of base hits in the bottom half of the fourth, with both coming with two outs. Fox would again get out of the inning unscathed, getting Dylan Enwiller to fly out to left field to record the third out.
The 'Dogs would again lead off with a runner reaching base in the top of the fifth, as
Luke Kaesmeyer connected with a base knock through the left side. He would advance to second as
Patrick Price grounded out to the second baseman, but would not score as
Chris Clary and
Taber Mongero each recorded outs to end the inning.
The Tar Heels again looked to score in the bottom of the seventh. Brandon Martorano drew a four-pitch walk from reliever
Langdon Wilson, and Cody Roberts singled through the right side to put runners on first and second with two outs.
GWU would go to its bullpen once again, bringing in
Aaron Stewart to face Michael Busch, who hit a grounder right back to Stewart to stop Carolina's scoring threat.
Jarrett Thompson entered the game for GWU in the bottom of the eighth, striking out the side.
Thompson remained on the mound for the 'Dogs in the ninth, and would coax a ground out to second base by Inclan to record the first out. Zack Gahagan then stepped up and reached on an infield single, but Thompson regained his composure, getting Jackson Hesterlee to hit a fly ball to center field, and then would strike out Brandon Riley on a 2-2 pitch to end the game.
Jones (1-for-4, HR), Kaesmeyer (1-for-2), and Fox (1-for-1) collected Gardner-Webb's three base hits on the day.
North Carolina was held to five base hits on the day, led by Roberts (2-for-4) and Gahagan (2-for-4).
Fox (2-1) earned the win on the mound for the Diamond 'Dogs, scattering three base hits with one strikeout in the first five innings of play. Wilson tossed 1.2 innings of relief, allowing just one base hit, while Stewart came in to record the final out of the seventh inning. Thompson earned his third save of 2018, hurling the final two innings, allowing just one base hit while fanning four batters.
Lancellotti (0-2) was saddled with the loss, tossing the first 2.1 innings while one run on one base hit with a pair of strikeouts. Caden O'Brien (1.1 IP, 1K), Cooper Criswell (4.1 IP, 2 H, 4 K) and Josh Hiatt (1.0 IP, 2 K) each made appearances in relief for the Tar Heels.
Gardner-Webb returns home this weekend to open Big South Conference play, hosting Liberty. The opening game of the three-game series will take place Friday evening, with the first pitch set for 6:00 pm.
