BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – Appalachian State scored three runs in the sixth and once more in the seventh to go on to hand Gardner-Webb an 8-4 loss on Tuesday evening.
Gardner-Webb (13-14) has now lost five consecutive games, while Appalachian State (6-13) snapped a seven-game skid.
The Mountaineers struck first, plating a pair of runs in the top of the second inning on a two-run home run by Conner Leonard.
Appalachian State increased its advantage in the top half of the third inning on RBI singles by Drew Beck and Leonard to take a 4-0 lead.
Gardner-Webb pushed its first runs of the evening across the plate in the bottom of the third. With one out,
Mickey Dugan reached on a full-count walk, followed by a base knock to left field by
Eric Jones.
Corey Howard stepped up and belted a double to the left field corner to clear the bases, pulling the 'Dogs back within two runs at 4-2.
GWU again sliced into Appalachian State's lead in the bottom of the fourth on a RBI single to right field by Dugan, setting the score at 4-3.
App State seized control of the contest of the top of the sixth. CJ Brown drove in the first run of the frame on a RBI double to left center, followed by a RBI triple to right field by Alex Leshock. One more run would score as Drew Beck was hit by a pitch by GWU reliever
Isaac Campbell with the bases loaded to give the Mountaineers a 7-3 lead.
JP McGuire led off the bottom of the sixth with a solo blast to left field to pull GWU back within three runs at 7-4. It was the first home run of his collegiate career.
The Mountaineers would score once more, pushing across an insurance run in the top of the seventh on a fielding error by GWU right fielder
Patrick Price to set the score at 8-4.
Gardner-Webb had five base hits on the evening, led by Dugan (2-for-4, RBI, run) and Howard (1-for-3, 2B, 2 RBI).
App State collected 10 base knocks, with Leshock (3-for-6, 3B, RBI, 3 runs) and Leonard (2-for-5, HR, 3 RBI) doing the most damage.
Mason Fox (2-3) took the loss on the mound for the Runnin' Bulldogs, giving up two runs on two hits with one strikeout in 2.0 innings of work. GWU used seven total pitchers on the evening.
Kaleb Bowman (1-0) earned his first win of the season for the Mountaineers, working 1.1 innings of relief, allowing no runs on no hits with three strikeouts. Starter Brandon Boone worked the initial 3.2 innings, surrendering three runs, two earned, on four base hits with four strikeouts.
Gardner-Webb travels to Radford, Va. for its next contest, opening a key Big South Conference series with Radford on Thursday evening at 6:00 pm. The game will be broadcast live on the Big South Network (www.bigsouthsports.com).
