BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – Gardner-Webb plated seven runs in the seventh and eighth innings, but was unable to produce any offense in the ninth as the Runnin' Bulldogs dropped an 11-10 decision to Liberty in the final game of the first Big South Conference weekend series of the 2018 season.
 
Gardner-Webb (12-9, 1-2 Big South) outhit Liberty (11-8, 2-1 Big South) by a 13-8 margin, but the Diamond 'Dogs stranded 10 runners throughout the day while the Flames took advantage of two GWU miscues in the field, scoring four runs after errors were committed with two outs.
 
Mickey Dugan gave Gardner-Webb an early 1-0 lead, belting a solo blast to left field with two outs in the bottom of the second inning, his second home run of the season.
 
Liberty answered in the top of the third, scoring twice on a RBI knock to center field by Tre Todd to take a 2-1 lead.
 
The Flames expanded their advantage in the fourth on a pair of home runs.  Tyler Galazin hit a ball that just made it to the right side of the left field foul pole for a two-run home run, which was later followed by a solo shot to left center by Cam Locklear, giving Liberty a 5-1 lead.
 
The Diamond 'Dogs got back on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fifth inning.  Dugan and Mason Fox led off the frame with back-to-back base hits through the left side, giving Luke Kaesmeyer the opportunity to plate Dugan on a knock through the right side of the field.  Fox would later score as Taber Mongero would reach on a fielder's choice.
 
Gardner-Webb would then load the bases with two outs as Liberty starter Brady Stamper would hit both Corey Howard and Justin Kunz with pitches.  The Flames would go to their bullpen, bringing in Garret Price, who fanned Eric Jones to escape the jam.
 
Liberty answered in the top of the sixth, scoring a pair of unearned runs with two outs as a throwing error by Jones at third base allowed Galazin to score from second base, and later Matt Allen scored on a balk by GWU reliever Langdon Wilson.
 
The Flames looked to put the game out of reach in the top of the seventh inning, plating three runs on a triple by Matt Allen that hit the base of the scoreboard in right center.
 
Trailing 10-3 as play headed to the bottom of the seventh, Gardner-Webb began its comeback effort.  With one out, Howard and Kunz connected with back-to-back base hits through the left side, and both advanced on a wild pitch to put runners on second and third.  Eric Jones stepped up and sent a base knock down the right field line to score both runners.
 
Chandler Redmond reached on a walk, followed by a single to left field by Dugan to again load the bases for GWU, this time with one out.  The 'Dogs were unable to capitalize as Liberty reliever Zack Brockman caused Fox to hit a infield fly back to the catcher, and Kaesmeyer hit a line drive to first baseman Dylan Allen to end the threat.
 
Liberty scored what proved to be the game deciding run in the top of the eighth.  D.J. Artis led off with a double to left field, and would later score on a RBI groundout by Todd.
 
In the bottom half of the eighth inning, the Gardner-Webb bats came alive.  The frame began with a pair of hits by Patrick Price and Mongero, and a fielding error allowed Howard to reach base to load the bases with no outs.  Kunz then drove Price home on a sacrifice fly that was hit deep to dead center field.
 
Jones would drive in one run on the following at bat to bring up Redmond, who sent a 0-1 pitch sailing over the left field wall to set the score at 11-10 with one away.
 
It was his third home run in as many days and his eighth of the 2018 season.
 
After a fly ball to right field by Dugan to record the second out, Fox would reach on a hit to center field, and then stole second base to reach scoring position, but Kaesmeyer grounded out to end the inning.
 
Jarrett Thompson was brought in to work the top of the ninth on the mound for Gardner-Webb, who retired the side to give the 'Dogs the chance at a walk-off win in the bottom half of the inning.
 
The GWU bats were stifled in the ninth however, as Liberty reliever Mason Hand retired the side, ending the game with a set of strikeouts to hand the Diamond 'Dogs their first conference series loss of the year.
 
Dugan had three of Gardner-Webb's 13 base hits on the day, going 3-for-5 with a home run and two runs scored. Redmond (1-for-4, HR, 3 RBI) and Jones (1-for-5, 3 RBI) drove in the majority of the squad's runs.
 
Todd (2-for-5, 3 RBI) and Locklear (2-for-4, HR, RBI) paced the Flames attack, combining for half of the team's eight hits.
 
Isaac Campbell (2-2) took the loss for GWU, allowing five runs, three earned, on five base hits with six strikeouts in 4.0 innings of work.  Wilson hurled 2.0 innings in relief, giving up two unearned runs on no hits with three strikeouts.  Aaron Stewart recorded one out in the seventh, giving up three runs on one hit, while Wil Sellers tossed 1.2 innings, surrendering one run on two hits while fanning two batters.  Thompson worked a perfect ninth with a pair of strikeouts.
 
Price (1-1) was awarded the win for Liberty, working 1.1 innings out of the bullpen, allowing just one base hit with four strikeouts.  Stamper tossed the first 4.2 innings in the no decision, giving up three runs on four hits with two strikeouts.  Brabrand recorded one out in the seventh, allowing two runs on three hits, while Brockman tossed 1.2 innings, giving up five runs, two earned, on five hits.  Hand earned his second save of the year, hurling a perfect ninth with two strikeouts.
 
Gardner-Webb returns to action this Tuesday evening at Wofford, with the first pitch slated for 6:00 pm at Russell C. King Field.