CLEMSON, S.C. – Clemson scored seven runs in the fifth inning to go on to hand Gardner-Webb a 9-2 loss at Doug Kingsmore Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Clemson improves to 28-18 overall, while Gardner-Webb drops to 19-23 on the season.
The Tigers pounced early, scoring their first runs of the day in the bottom of the first inning on a two-run home run off of the foul pole in left field by Kyle Wilkie.
Clemson seized control of the game in the bottom of the fifth inning. With the bases loaded, Justin Hawkins drove in Wilkie as he reached on a fielder's choice, which was followed by three straight RBI singles by Davis Sharpe, Bryce Teodosio, and Sam Hall.
Gardner-Webb went to its bullpen to bring in
Aaron Stewart, who gave up a three-run home run to Logan Davidson on his first pitch to put the Tigers ahead by a 9-0 margin.
The Runnin' Bulldogs got on the scoreboard in the top of the sixth inning, as
Ben LaSpaluto led off the frame by blasting a 3-1 pitch well past the left field wall, his fourth home run of the season.
GWU scored once more in the inning, as
JP McGuire was hit by a pitch by Clemson reliever Jackson Lindley with the bases loaded to plate
Justin Kunz.
Clemson added one more run in the bottom of the eighth as pinch hitter Chad Fairey connected with a RBI single to center field to plate Jordan Greene, setting the score at 10-2.
Clemson totaled 13 base hits on the day, paced by Davidson, who was 3-for-5 at the plate with two doubles, one home run, three RBI and two runs scored.
GWU had eight hits, with LaSpaluto, who was 3-for-4 with a double, a home run, one RBI and one run scored, leading that effort. Kunz was held without a base hit for the first time since March 27 against Furman, breaking a 20-game hit streak.
Sharpe (6-3) earned the win on the mound for the Tigers, allowing two earned runs on three base hits with six strikeouts in 5.2 innings of work. Lindley worked 1.1 innings, allowing no runs on two hits. Keyshawn Askew and Luke Sommerfeld each worked one scoreless frame to wrap up the game.
Isaac Campbell (2-4) took the loss for the Runnin' Bulldogs, allowing two runs on four base hits with a pair of strikeouts in four innings on the mound.
Noah Davis recorded one out in relief, allowing six runs on five hits. Stewart hurled 1.2 innings, allowing one earned run on one base hit, and
Cody Dooley worked the final two innings, giving up one run on three base hits.
The two teams will square off again tomorrow afternoon at 2:00 pm at Keeter Stadium in Shelby, N.C. Admission for the game is $10. Sunday's game is also "Player Appreciation Day" in which all former players from throughout GWU head coach
Rusty Stroupe's coaching career will be invited to take part in a pregame ceremony. Stroupe recently announced that he will be retiring from coaching at the end of the 2019 season.
