SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Gardner-Webb scored seven runs in the first two innings of play to cruise to an 8-2 win over USC Upstate on Tuesday evening.
Gardner-Webb (20-15) jumped out to an immediate lead in the first inning. After USC Upstate (16-19-1) starter Will Hartigree retired the first two batters, the 'Dogs scored their first run of the night on a base hit bunt by
Chris Clary, followed by a RBI single to center field by
Luke Kaesmeyer to set the score at 2-0 with two runners on base.
That brought
Chandler Redmond to the plate, who smashed a 0-2 pitch well past the right field wall to give GWU a 5-0 lead. It was the ninth home run of the season for Redmond.
Gardner-Webb plated two runs in the top of the second on consecutive sacrifice fly balls by
Mickey Dugan and Howard, expanding its lead to 7-0.
The Spartans got on the board in the bottom of the fourth inning on a RBI double by Toran Shahidi to set the score at 7-1.
Clary led off the fifth inning by uncorking a solo blast over the center field wall, his sixth home run of the season and his third in as many contests, to give GWU an 8-1 advantage.
Upstate pushed one final run across the plate in the bottom of the eighth on a RBI single by Mason Stewart.
The 'Dogs totaled 12 base hits on the evening, with Redmond (2-for-5, HR, 3 RBI) and Clary (2-for-5, HR, 2 RBI) doing the majority of the damage.
USC Upstate had seven hits, led by Charlie Carpenter (2-for-5, run).
Aaron Stewart (2-0) earned the win on the mound for the Diamond 'Dogs, allowing one run on three base hits with five strikeouts in five innings of work.
Jordan Hampton worked a scoreless sixth with no base hits allowed, while
Noah Davis worked two frames, allowing one run on three base hits.
Carey Spratlin hurled the ninght, allowing no runs on one hit.
Hardigree (0-1) took the loss for the Spartans, allowing seven runs on five base hits in two innings of work. Sean Hupp allowed one run on four hits in three innings on the mound, while Will Wheeler (2.0 IP, 1 H, 3 K), Grant Hoppock (1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 K) and Trey Van Der Weid (1.0 IP, 1 H, 3 K) combined for four scoreless innings.
Gardner-Webb returns to Big South Conference play this weekend, opening a seven-game home stand with a weekend series against the Big South leading High Point Panthers. The series kicks off Friday evening at 6:00 pm with coverage on the Big South Network (www.bigsouthsports.com).
