BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.- The Runnin' Bulldogs showed of their offensive power Thursday as Gardner-Webb took both ends of a Big South Conference doubleheader at Bill Masters Field at John Henry Moss Stadium.
Gardner-Webb (9-10, 8-4 Big South) defeated Longwood (8-15, 2-8 Big South) by a 10-3 score in game one, before taking a 10-2 decision in the nightcap.
GAME ONE
The Runnin' Bulldogs raked out 11 base hits en route to a 10-3 win over the Lancers in the first game of the afternoon.
Gardner-Webb jumped to an immediate 2-0 lead, plating runs on a RBI groundout by
Patrick Ferguson, followed by a RBI single by
Keiji Parkhurst in the bottom of the first inning.
Two more runs were scored by the 'Dogs in the bottom of the second.
Pete Capobianco led off the frame by drawing a walk, followed by a base hit by
Bo Rusher. That set up an RBI single through the left side off the bat of
Benino Mendella, and later one run crossed the plate as
Eric Jones grounded into a double play.
Longwood got on the board in the top of the fourth on a sacrifice fly by Hayden Harris., setting the score at 4-1.
The Lancers trimmed GWU's lead to just one run in the top of the sixth, scoring runs on a RBI double by Justin Looney and a RBI knock by Cullan Wadsworth.
Gardner-Webb reclaimed control in the bottom of the sixth. Rusher drove in a pair of runs on a RBI double to right field, who later scored on a wild pitch by Longwood reliever Trey Tiffany, giving the 'Dogs a 7-3 lead.
Three more runs were added in the bottom of the seventh. A sac fly by Ferguson sent one run across, while a RBI double to the left field gap by Capobianco and RBI single up the middle by Rusher set the score at 10-3.
Gardner-Webb totaled 11 base hits, with Rusher (3-for-4, 2B, 3 RBI) leading that effort.
The Lancers totaled six hits, paced by Looney (2-for-4, 2B, RBI).
Mason Miller (3-1) earned the win on the mound for GWU, allowing two earned runs on five base hits while fanning six batters in 6.0 innings of work.
Isaac Campbell hurled a scoreless frame, allowing one base hit while recording all three outs by strikeout.
Corey Treyes worked the final two innings, allowing no runs or hits while fanning two batters.
Andrew Melnyk (0-1) took the loss for Longwood, giving up six earned runs on eight base hits with four strikeouts in 5.1 innings of work.
GAME TWO
Six early runs propelled the Runnin' Bulldogs to a 10-2 win over Longwood in Thursday's nightcap.
GWU once again plated runs in the first innings.
Mitch McLendon led off by sending the first pitch he saw to center field, and was moved to third base on a double to left field by
Eric Jones. That set up back-to-back sacrifice flies by
Cam Pearcey and
Patrick Ferguson to give the 'Dogs an early 2-0 lead.
Gardner-Webb seized control of the contest in the bottom of the second.
Benino Mendella sent one run across on a base knock to right field, followed by a RBI double to the left field gap by McLendon. Two more runs scored as an error by Longwood shortstop Ricky Jimenez allowed both Mendella and McLendon to cross the plate, giving GWU a 6-0 lead.
The Lancers scratched in the top of the fourth as a RBI fielder's choice off the bat of Nelson allowed Eliot Dix, who led off the frame with a base hit, to score.
The Runnin' Bulldogs essentially sealed the game in the bottom of the fifth inning. With two outs, Ferguson belted a base knock to left field and
Keiji Parkhurst reached via a walk to set up a RBI single to center field by
Joe Simone.
That was followed by a three-run blast just left of center field off the bat of
Pete Capobianco. It was the first collegiate home run for the freshman, giving GWU a 10-1 lead.
Longwood added one run in the top of the ninth on a RBI single to left field by Justin Looney.
Gardner-Webb totaled eight base hits throughout the game, led by McLendon (2-for-5, 2B, RBI)
Longwood collected nine hits, paced by Dix (2-for-4).
Bobby Alcock (2-1) earned the win on the mound for the 'Dogs, scattering seven base hits while giving up just one run with five strikeouts in five innings of work.
Luke Goodyear hurled two scoreless frames, allowing just one hit with a pair of strikeouts.
Dalton Strickland tossed a scoreless inning, allowing no hits, fanning three batters.
Lenny Washington worked the ninth, allowing one run on one hit with one strikeout.
Sean Gibbons (0-1) took the loss for the Lancers, giving up five runs on three hits in 1.1 innings on the start.
Both teams meet again tomorrow afternoon, with the first pitch set for 1:00 pm, to wrap up the series.
