BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. –
Keiji Parkhurst belted the leadoff pitch of the bottom of the ninth inning over the center field fence, giving Gardner-Webb a 4-3 walk-off win over Ball State in midweek action on Wednesday night at Bill Masters Field at John Henry Moss Stadium.
Gardner-Webb (7-5) trailed Ball State (3-8) by a 3-1 score as play headed to the bottom of the seventh inning. The 'Dogs wasted little time tying the game, with Parkhurst plating one run on a RBI triple to center field, followed by a RBI knock by
JP McGuire to set the score at 3-3 with no outs.
GWU was able to advance McGuire to third base with two away, but was unable to produce the go-ahead run.
The Cardinals threatened in each of the eighth and ninth innings, putting a runner on third in each frame, but GWU relievers
Langdon Wilson and
Chase Lane kept Ball State off of the scoreboard. In total, Ball State left 12 runners on base for the evening.
That set up the walk-off home run for Parkhurst, who launched the first pitch he saw from BSU reliever Andre Orselli over the wall in center field, his second home run of 2020.
Gardner-Webb fell behind early, with Ball State plating two runs in the top of the second inning. Zach Cole drew a bases-loaded walk from
Chase Britton, followed by a sacrifice fly by Aaron Simpson.
GWU got on the scoreboard for the first time in the bottom of the third on a RBI groundout by
Ben LaSpaluto, scoring Parkhurst who led off the frame with a double to the left field gap.
Ball State pushed its lead back to two runs at 3-1 in the top of the fourth as an error by LaSpaluto with the bases loaded allowed one run to cross the plate.
Parkhurst paced the 'Dogs at the plate, finishing a single shy of the cycle, going 3-for-3 with two RBI and also reached once on a walk. GWU totaled six base hits on the night, with extra-base hits from McGuire (1-for-1, 2B, RBI) and
Carter Cunningham (1-for-3, 2B).
The Cardinals had six hits, led by Chase Sebby, who was 2-for-3 on the night.
Lane (2-1) earned the win on the mound for Gardner-Webb, recording the final out of the top of the ninth. Jones started the night with his first collegiate action on the mound, allowing no runs or hits in one inning of work. The Runnin' Bulldogs used a total of eight pitchers on the evening.
Orselli (0-2) took the loss for Ball State, allowing one run on one base hits in 0.2 innings of work. Starter Ty Weatherly lasted four innings, allowing one run on one hit with three strikeouts.
Gardner-Webb hits the road for its longest trip of the season, traveling over 600 miles to Jonesboro, Ark. to take on Arkansas State in a three-game series. Action begins Friday evening at 7:00 pm.
