BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – The Gardner-Webb baseball team split a pair of games with visiting Charleston Southern Saturday afternoon in Big South Conference action, falling to the Buccaneers by a 5-1 score in the first game before bouncing back to take a 6-5 decision in the nightcap at Bill Masters Field at John Henry Moss Stadium.
Gardner-Webb sits a 3-8 overall and 2-3 in Big South play, while Charleston Southern is now 6-6 overall and 6-3 in league action.
GAME ONE
Charleston Southern jumped out to an immediate lead, scoring once in the top of the first on a RBI groundout by Houston Parker.
Gardner-Webb answered in the bottom of the second. After back-to-back base hits put runners on with one out, the 'Dogs were able to push one across after a fielding error by CSU second baseman Dylan Stewart allowed
Mitch McLendon to reach.
The Buccaneers reclaimed the lead in the top of the third, scoring twice on RBI singles by Johnny Oliveira and Christian Maggio.
CSU added to its lead on a RBI single by Kyle Sandstrom in the top of the sixth and a RBI single by Maggio in the top of the seventh.
RJ Petit (2-2) claimed the win on the mound for the Bucs, hurling eight innings, allowing just one unearned run on three hits while fanning ten batters with just one walk. Jordan Bridges recorded the final three outs, allowing no hits with one strikeout.
Mason Miller (2-1) took his first loss of the season for GWU, giving up four earned runs on eight base hits with six strikeouts in 6.2 innings of work. Reliever
Dalton Strickland tossed the final 2.1 innings, allowing no runs while allowing just one base hit with one strikeout.
Charleston Southern totaled nine base hits, paced by Maggio, who was 3-for-5 with two RBI.
GWU collected three base hits.
GAME TWO
Gardner-Webb took control of the bout early, scoring three runs in the bottom of the first inning.
Mitch McLendon led off with a base hit through the left side, followed by a walk by Ben LasSpaluto to set up a bases-clearing triple down the right field line by
Joe Simone.
Simone was later sent home on a RBI groundout by
Bo Rusher to set the score at 3-0.
GWU tacked on another run in the bottom of the second on a RBI knock by McLendon.
Charleston Southern responded in the top of the fourth inning. Connor Aldrich plated the first two runs of the night for the Bucs on a double down the right field line. He'd later score on a RBI double by Kyle Sandstrom, and a base knock by Houston Parker would tie the game at 4-4.
The Buccaneers claimed the lead in the top of the seventh on a RBI single by Reid Hardwick.
Gardner-Webb answered in the bottom half of the inning. With two outs, LaSpaluto reached on a base hit and advanced to scoring position on a wild pitch. He would score on a fielding error by CSU right fielder Johnny Oliviera that put Simone on third, setting up the go-ahead RBI off the bat of Rusher.
Bobby Alcock (1-1) earned the first win of his collegiate career for GWU, allowing just one run on four base hits with seven strikeouts in three innings of work from the bullpen. Starter
Isaac Campbell lasted four innings, allowing two earned runs on five base hits with four strikeouts.
Connor Gleeson hurled the final two frames, scattering two hits with a pair of strikeouts to record his first save of the year.
Christian Baker (1-1) took the loss for Charleston Southern, giving up a pair of unearned runs on two base hits with three strikeouts in 2.1 innings of relief work. Starter Krishna Raj lasted 4.1 innings, surrendering four runs on six base hits with six strikeouts.
The Runnin' Bulldogs totaled eight base hits, with McLendon (2-for-4, RBI) and Simone (2-for-4, 2B, 3B, 2 RBI) pacing that effort.
CSU had 11 hits in the nightcap, led by Brewer (2-for-4, 2B, BB), Parker (2-for-4, RBI) and Hardwick (2-for-5, 2B, RBi).
Both teams will square off again tomorrow afternoon at 3:00 pm to wrap up the series.
