LYNCHBURG, Va. – Gardner-Webb plated five runs in the first four innings to hang to a 7-5 win over Winthrop in the opening round of the 2018 Big South Conference Baseball Championship on Wednesday afternoon.
Gardner-Webb improves to 30-25 overall while Winthrop falls to 24-30 on the year.
The Runnin' Bulldogs scratched first in the top of the third inning.
Chris Clary reached on a fielding error by Winthrop pitcher Nate Pawelczyk to lead of the frame, and quickly stole second base to reach scoring position.
Ben LaSpaluto followed by belting a double to left field to send Clary across the plate, giving GWU the initial 1-0 advantage.
Gardner-Webb expanded its lead in the top of the fourth. With two outs,
Eric Jones reached with a base knock through the left side, followed by a base hit to right field by
Luke Kaesmeyer.
Clary reached once again on a fielding error, this time by Winthrop catcher Ryan Watson, to load the bases for LaSpaluto, who singled to the right field gap to drive home Jones and Kaesmeyer.
An additional pair of runs was plated in the frame on a two-run single to the left center gap by
Justin Kunz, putting GWU ahead by a 5-0 score.
Winthrop got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fifth inning on a RBI single by Brandon Fite and trimmed the GWU lead to just one run in the sixth inning.
With one out, Mitch Spires lifted a solo home run over the left field wall, and after back-to-back base hits, Cale Gibson drove in one run on a RBI fielder's choice.
One more run would score on a base hit to the right field gap by Fite, bringing the Eagles within a single run at 5-4.
The 'Dogs expanded their lead in the top of the seventh on a RBI fielder's choice by
Corey Howard, and added an insurance run in the top of the ninth as
Chandler Redmond drew a bases-loaded walk to set the score at 7-4.
The Eagles threated to rally in the bottom of the ninth, putting a pair of runners in scoring position with no outs after back-to-back base hits by Connor O'Brien and Scout McFalls.
With one out, Winthrop pushed one run across on a sacrifice fly by Spires, but GWU sealed the contest on a groundout by Tyler Halstead to end the game.
Bradley Hallman (6-2) picked up the win for the Runnin' Bulldogs, allowing three earned runs on ten base hits with four strikeouts in 5.2 innings of work.
Wil Sellers worked 2.2 innings in relief, allowing one run on three hits while fanning four batters, and
Jarrett Thompson recorded the final two outs to earn his eighth save of 2018.
Pawelczyk (6-6) was saddled with the loss for the Eagles, giving up six earned run on eight hits with five strikeouts in 6.1 innings on the mound. Jason Crumley tossed the last 2.2 innings, surrendering one run on three hits with one strikeout.
GWU collected 11 base hits throughout the bout, with LaSpaluto (2-for-4, 2B, 3 RBI), Kunz (2-for-4, 2B, 2 RBI), Kaesmeyer (2-for-3) and
Mason Fox (2-for-5) each having multiple-hit afternoons.
Winthrop totaled 13 hits, with Spires (2-for-4, HR, 2 RBI) and Fite (2-for-4, 2 RBI) leading that effort.
Gardner-Webb advances to take on Campbell at noon on Thursday afternoon as the 2018 Big South Conference Baseball Championship continues. The game will be broadcast live on the Big South Network (www.bigsouthsports.com).
