LYNCHBURG, Va. – After trailing by a 4-0 score with one out in the bottom of the first inning, No. 5 Gardner-Webb scored five unanswered runs, including a go-ahead home run in the top of the ninth, to defeat No. 4 Winthrop by a 5-4 score Thursday night in the 2018 Big South Conference Baseball Championship.
With the win, Gardner-Webb improves to 31-26 overall and moves on to face No. 2 High Point in tomorrow's semifinals. Winthrop is eliminated from the tournament and finishes the year with a 25-31 overall record.
Winthrop got out of the gate hot, scoring four runs in the bottom of the first on a two-run double by Tyler Halstead and a two-run single by Hunter Lipscomb.
GWU began to chip away at the Eagle lead in the top of the second inning, plating one run as
Ben LaSpaluto connected with an infield single to score
Eric Jones, who reached by drawing a walk earlier in the frame.
The 'Dogs scored one run the fourth inning to pull within two runs at 4-2.
Chandler Redmond led off with a double to center field and advance to third on a groundout by Jones.
With two outs,
Chris Clary connected with a base hit bunt that allowed Redmond to cross home plate
Gardner-Webb tied the game in the top of the sixth inning as
Luke Kaesmeyer belted a triple to the right field gap, plating
Corey Howard, who led off the frame with a base hit, and Jones, who reached by drawing a walk.
The score remained tied at 4-4 in the top of the ninth inning until LaSpaluto blasted a solo home run to left field, his third home run of the year, to put Gardner-Webb on top by a 5-4 margin.
GWU shut down any comeback attempt by Winthrop in the bottom of the ninth, as
Tyler Johnson recorded three straight outs to end the game.
Johnson (2-1) earned the win for the Runnin' Bulldogs, hurling a dominant 8.2 innings, allowing no runs while scattering five base hits with eight strikeouts.
Langdon Wilson recorded just one out in the start, giving up four runs on one base hit.
Dalton Whitaker (0-2) took the loss for the Eagles, giving up one run on two hits in 0.2 innings of work. Daniel Willcutt lasted seven innings in the start, allowing four runs on eight hits with four strikeouts. Jason Crumley worked 1.1 scoreless innings, allowing no runs or hits.
Gardner-Webb had 10 base hits on the night, with Kaesmeyer (2-for-4, 3B, 2 RBI), LaSpaluto (2-for-4, HR, 2 RBI), and Howard (2-for-5) each having multiple hit outings.
Winthrop had six hits, led by Lipscomb (2-for-4, 2 RBI).
Gardner-Webb will take on High Point tomorrow afternoon in the semifinals of the 2018 Big South Conference Baseball Championship, with the game starting at approximately 1:45 pm. Live coverage can be found on ESPN 3 (WatchESPN.com).
