BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. –
Corey Howard drove in the go-ahead run on a RBI double in the bottom of the seventh inning to lift Gardner-Webb to a 5-4 win over visiting Presbyterian on Saturday afternoon.
Gardner-Webb (23-18, 9-8 Big South) led by a 4-2 score as play headed to the seventh inning, but Presbyterian (13-28, 6-11 Big South) would tie the game in the top half of the inning.
Andrew Bladt led off the inning by drawing a walk and was advanced to second base on a sacrifice bunt by Jonathan White.
That brought Nick Guimbarda to the plate, who sent the first pitch he saw past the right field wall to tie the game at 4-4.
Gardner-Webb responded in the bottom half of the inning. With one out,
Mickey Dugan connected with a double to right field gap to bring Howard to the plate with a runner in scoring position.
Howard then belted the first pitch he saw to the exact same spot to swap places with Dugan, giving GWU the 5-4 lead.
PC then went to its bullpen, bringing in reliever Ryan Hedrick, who retired the first two batters he faced to end the frame.
Gardner-Webb went to its bullpen for the next two innings, as
Tyler Johnson retired the side in the eighth inning, and
Wil Sellers needed just four pitches to retire the side in the ninth to seal the contest.
Sellers earned his 23rd career save, tying the Gardner-Webb record for a career, set by Adam Izokovic, who pitched for Gardner-Webb from 2009-2012.
The Blue Hose jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the top off the second on a two-run home run to right field by Nick Wise.
Gardner-Webb answered in the bottom of the third inning, plating a pair of runs on a base knock by Howard to tie the game at 2-2.
The Diamond 'Dogs claimed the lead in the bottom of the fourth, as a base hit through the left side by
Ben LaSpaluto drove in
Chris Clary, who reached on a base hit to left field earlier in the frame.
Chandler Redmond led off the bottom of the sixth inning by launching a solo home run to right field, his team-leading 11th long ball of 2018, to increase GWU's advantage to 4-2.
Bradley Hallman (5-1) earned the win on the mound for GWU, allowing four runs on seven base hits in seven innings. Johnson allowed no one to reach in the eighth while fanning one batter, and Sellers worked a perfect ninth to earn his fourth save of 2018.
Will Smith (2-3) took the loss for the Blue Hose, giving up five runs on nine hits in 6.1 innings of work while fanning six batters. Hedrick tossed the final 1.2 innings, allowing no runs on a pair of base hits with three strikeouts.
Gardner-Webb had 11 base hits, paced by Howard (3-of-4, 2B, 3 RBI).
PC collected seven hits throughout the contest, with Guimbarda (2-for-4, HR, 2 RBI), Wise (2-for-4, HR, 2 RBI), and T.J. Richardson (2-for-3) leading that effort.
Both squads will face off tomorrow afternoon at 2:00 pm to wrap up the series. Live coverage of the game will be provided by the Big South Network (www.bigsouthsports.com).
