SHELBY, N.C. – Wake Forest used three home runs to go on to hand Gardner-Webb a 9-7 loss on Tuesday night at the Jim Horn Memorial Game at Keeter Stadium in Shelby, N.C.
The Demon Deacons (27-19) jumped out to an early 2-0 lead over Gardner-Webb (19-22) in the bottom of the first inning, as a bunt single by Jake Mueller was directly followed by a home run to right field by Chris Lanzilli.
Gardner-Webb answered in the top of the second inning, scoring twice on a bases-loaded single by
Jake Phillips to tie the game. Later in the frame,
Justin Kunz belted a single into deep left field that drove in one run, and a throwing error on the play by Wake Forest catcher Logan Harvey on the play allowed two more runs to score to put GWU on top by a 5-2 margin.
Wake Forest used the power of the longball to rally back in the bottom of the third, with Lanzilli connecting with his second home run of the night to drive in two runs, later followed by a solo shot by Shane Muntz to square the game at 5-5.
The Runnin' Bulldogs would again take the lead in the top of the fifth on a two-run home run to left field by
JP McGuire, his third home run of the season.
WFU responded in the bottom half of the fifth, knotting the game once again on RBI doubles by Bobby Seymour and Michael Ludowig.
Wake Forest retook the lead in the bottom of the sixth as Lanzilli drove in his fifth run of the evening as the grounded into a bases-loaded fielder's choice, and Seymour would drive one run in on a fielder's choice as well to put the Deacs on top by a 9-7 score.
Lanzilli paced the Demon Deacon offense with a 2-for-5 performance with two home runs and five RBI. Mueller also had a two-hit performance, going 2-for-3 on the night.
Kunz led the way for the 'Dogs at the plate, going 3-for-5 with one RBI and one run scored.
Tyler Witt (3-1) earned the win on the mound for Wake Forest, hurling three scoreless frames with no hits and five strikeouts from the bullpen. Starter Morgan McSweeney lasted 3.1 innings, allowing five runs, three earned, on eight hits with a pair of strikeouts.
Cody Dooley (0-1) took the loss for Gardner-Webb, allowing a pair of runs on one hit, recording two outs with one strikeout. Starter
Langdon Wilson lasted 2.1 innings, giving up five runs on five hits.
Gardner-Webb returns to action Saturday afternoon, facing Clemson in a home and home weekend series. Saturday's game will be at 4:00 pm in Clemson, S.C. and the two teams will face each other Sunday afternoon at 2:00 pm at Keeter Stadium in Shelby, N.C. Admission for Sunday's game will be $10.
