BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – Gardner-Webb scored three runs in the seventh and eighth innings to earn a 4-2 win over High Point in the opening bout of a key Big South Conference series on Friday evening.
Gardner-Webb (21-15, 7-6 Big South) broke a 1-1 tie in the bottom of the seventh inning with two outs as a RBI double off of the left field wall by
Luke Kaesmeyer plated
Chris Clary, who reached on a bunt single earlier in the frame.
GWU added two runs in the eighth, the first coming on a sacrifice fly by
Mason Fox, followed by a solo home run off of the scoreboard in right field by
Mickey Dugan. It was the fifth home run of the year for Dugan.
High Point (18-15, 9-4 Big South) looked to rally in the top of the ninth, leading off with back-to-back base hits by Austin Zente and Travis Holt off of GWU reliever
Wil Sellers.
After Hunter Lee reached on a fielder's choice, putting runners on the corners with one out, Carson Jackson drove in Zente on a RBI single to left field to set the score at 4-2 with one out.
Gardner-Webb went to its bullpen once again, bringing in
Jarrett Thompson to face Jordan Sergent. Thompson got Sergent to ground into a double play on the first pitch he saw, closing the door on a HPU comeback effort, sealing a GWU win.
High Point scored the first run of the evening in the top of the third inning on a solo home run to left field with two outs by Zente.
The Diamond 'Dogs were held without a base hit until the bottom of the fourth inning, when
Eric Jones tied the game on one pitch, as he belted a solo shot to center field, his third home run of 2018.
Gardner-Webb had seven base hits throughout the evening, with
Corey Howard (2-for-4) being the lone Diamond 'Dog with a multi-hit night.
Jackson (4-for-5, 3B, RBI) paced the High Point offense, which had 14 base hits.
Noah Davis (2-1) was awarded the win for Gardner-Webb, working a scoreless seventh inning, allowing one base hit with one strikeout. Starter
Langdon Wilson lasted 5.0 innings, giving up just one run on nine base hits with three strikeouts.
Jordan Hampton tossed a perfect sixth inning, fanning one batter, while Sellers worked 1.1 innings, giving up one run on four base knocks with a pair of strikeouts. Thompson recorded the final two outs, earning his seventh save of the season.
Andrew Gottfried (4-3) was saddled with the loss for the Panthers, surrendering four runs on seven base hits with six strikeouts in 7.2 innings of work. Garrett Letchworth recorded the final out of the eighth inning.
Both squads will square off again tomorrow afternoon in a twin bill beginning at 2:00 pm. Both contests will be broadcast live on the Big South Network (www.bigsouthsports.com).
