BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – Eric Jones drove a base hit through the right side of the infield with two outs in the bottom of the fifth inning to send the go-ahead run home, lifting Gardner-Webb past Presbyterian, 3-2, on Friday night.
With the score knotted at 2-2, Gardner-Webb (22-18, 8-8 Big South) had its first two batters in the bottom of the fifth retired by Presbyterian (13-27, 6-10 Big South) on a pair of groundouts.
Mickey Dugan reached on a four-pitch walk, followed by a base hit to deep center field by Corey Howard that put runners on the corners for Jones.
Jones sent a 0-1 pitch scorching through right side gap, allowing Dugan to reach home safely to give GWU the 3-2 advantage.
The Blue Hose jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning on a two-run home run by A.J. Priaulx to right field.
That home run would be the last time a PC runner would reach base until the fifth inning when Jack McLaughlin reached on a fielding error as GWU starter Langdon Wilson retired ten straight batters.
The Diamond 'Dogs plated a pair of runs in the bottom of the third inning to tie the game, the first run coming on a RBI double by Dugan, which was followed by a RBI knock to left field by Howard.
The Blue Hose had their best chance to tie or reclaim the lead in the top of the sixth inning. Andrew Bladt led off the frame by reaching on a walk, followed by a base hit to right field by Nick Guimbarda to put runners on the corners with no outs.
GWU reliever Isaac Campbell was able to get the 'Dogs out of the jam unscathed, retiring Tannor Byrd on an infield fly and getting Jonahtan White to ground into a double play to end the inning.
Wilson (1-0) earned his first collegiate win on the mound for Gardner-Webb, allowing two runs on two hits with one strikeout in five innings of work. Campbell tossed 2.0 innings in relief, allowing just one hit while fanning one batter. Tyler Johnson worked a perfect eighth inning, recording two strikeouts, while Wil Sellers earned his third save of the season in a perfect ninth.
Tanner Chock (2-2) took the loss for PC, allowing three runs on six base hits with nine strikeouts in seven innings of work. Eric Miles worked the eighth inning in relief, allowing no runs on one base hit.
GWU had seven hits throughout the evening, with Howard (2-for-4, RBI) and Luke Kaesmeyer (2-for-4) each having multi-hit nights.
Presbyterian was held to just three base hits, with Priaulx (1-for-3, HR, 2 RBI) providing the majority of the offense.
Both teams will square off tomorrow afternoon as the Big South Conference series continues. The first pitch is set for 2:00 pm from Bill Masters Field at John Henry Moss Stadium.
