RADFORD, Va. – Gardner-Webb plated four runs in the top of third inning to go on to take an 8-4 decision at Radford on Saturday afternoon.
With the win, Gardner-Webb (16-14, 4-5 Big South) completes the series sweep of Radford (10-16, 2-7 Big South), outscoring the Highlanders by a 33-18 margin for the weekend.
Leading by a 2-1 score as play headed to the third inning,
Mickey Dugan led off the frame by connecting with a double to the left field gap. He advanced to third base on a deep fly ball to right field by
Eric Jones, and was then plated safely on a RBI knock to right field by
Corey Howard.
Chris Clary reached on a walk to put runners on first and second for
Justin Kunz who belted a three-run blast over the left field wall to give Gardner-Webb a 6-1 lead. It was the second home run of the 2018 season for Kunz.
Radford looked to make a comeback in the bottom of the seventh inning. The Highlanders led off with back-to-back walks off of reliever
Isaac Campbell, which led to
Tyler Johnson being brought in from the bullpen.
Colby Higgerson then stepped up and delivered an RBI single, followed by Spencer Horwitz drawing a walk to load the bases with no outs.
Gardner-Webb would go back to its bullpen once again, this time bringing in
Wil Sellers, who recorded three straight outs, but two runs scored on a pair of RBI groundouts to bring Radford within two runs at 6-4.
The Diamond 'Dogs pushed their lead back to three runs in the top of the eighth.
Chris Clary reached first after striking out, but the ball got away from Radford catcher Straton Podaras to allow Clary to advance to first safely. He was then able to score all the way from first base as a failed pickoff attempt by pitcher Mack Krupp sailed into right field.
GWU added an additional run in the ninth on a sacrifice fly by Jones to take an 8-4 lead.
Radford made one last effort to get back in the contest in the bottom of the ninth, putting a pair of runners in scoring position with one away on a single by Higgerson and a double by Andrew Szamski, but Sellers shut down the Highlander threat, fanning the next two batters to shut the door.
The 'Dogs jumped out to an initial 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning. With one out, Dugan connected with a solo home run to center field, his fourth home run of the year. That was followed by a double to center field by Howard, who later scored on a failed pickoff attempt by pitcher Austin Ross.
The Highlanders scored once in the bottom of the second on a solo home run by Garrett Matheny.
Gardner-Webb collected 11 base hits throughout the day, with Dugan (2-for-4, HR, RBI, 2 runs), Howard (2-for-5, 2B, RBI, 2 runs),
Mason Fox (2-for-5, 2B) and
Ben LaSpaluto (2-for-3) each having multiple-hit days.
Radford had seven hits, led by Higgerson (2-for-5, RBI, run) and Szamski (2-for-4, RBI).
Fox (3-3) also earned the win on the mound for the 'Dogs, allowing just one run on four base hits with a pair of strikeouts in five innings of work. Campbell worked 1.0 innings, giving up two runs on no hits while allowing three walks and Johnson failed to record an out, allowing one run on one hit with one walk. Sellers worked the final 3.0 innings, allowing no runs n two hits with three strikeouts to earn his second save of 2018.
Ross (5-3) took the loss for the Highlanders, surrendering six runs on eight hits in the opening four innings. Krupp worked 4.1 innings of relief, giving up a pair of runs on three base hits. Grayson Lamb recorded the final two outs of the ninth.
Gardner-Webb returns home for its next contest, hosting USC Upstate on Wednesday, April 4. The first pitch is slated for 6:00 pm with live coverage on the Big South Network (www.bigsouthsports.com).
