BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – The Runnin' Bulldogs completed the weekend sweep of Longwood, taking a 7-3 win Friday afternoon in Big South Conference action at Bill Masters Field at John Henry Moss Stadium.
Gardner-Webb (10-10, 9-4 Big South) fell behind at the onset of the contest as Longwood (8-16, 2-9 Big South) scored in the top of the first inning on a solo home run to right field by Eliot Dix.
The Runnin' Bulldogs didn't trail for long, answering in the bottom half of the frame. With one out,
Eric Jones connected with a base knock through the left side, and advanced to scoring position as
Cam Pearcey drew a walk.
Jones advanced to third base on a fly ball to center field, setting up a double steal opportunity for both Jones and Pearcey. Pearcey took off from first base, and Jones took off for home as Longwood catcher Drayven Kowalski attempted to throw down to shortstop Ricky Jimenez and second. Pearcey was safe at second, Jimenez's attempt to get the ball back to Kowalski in time to tag out Jones was off target, allowing Jones to score and Pearcey to advance to third base.
Pearcey later scored on a wild pitch, giving Gardner-Webb a 2-1 lead.
The Lancers tied the game in the top of the second on their second home run of the bout, a solo shot to left field by Jiminez.
Gardner-Webb reclaimed the lead for good in the bottom of the third inning.
Benino Mendella led off with a base hit to left field, and was later plated on a RBI knock to right field by Pearcey, giving the 'Dogs a 3-2 advantage.
GWU scored once again in the bottom of the fourth on a RBI double off the bat of
Mitch McLendon.
Longwood pulled within one run in the top of the fifth inning as a RBI double to the right field gap by Hunter Gilliam with two outs set the score at 4-3.
The Runnin' Bulldogs answered in the bottom half of the fifth. Pearcey led off by belting a triple down the left field line, and was sent home with one out on a RBI hit to right field by
Joe Simone. GWU added another run to its lead later in the inning on a RBI hit to right field by
Bo Rusher, setting the score at 6-3.
Gardner-Webb added an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth as
Patrick Ferguson drew a bases-loaded walk to plate Rusher, who led off the inning by drawing a walk.
Pearcey and Simone paced the GWU bats on the day, each collecting two of the team's eight base hits. Pearcey was 2-for-4 with a triple, one RBI and two runs scored, while Simone went 2-for-3 with one RBI.
Longwood totaled seven base hits, led by Gilliam with a 3-for-4 outing with one RBI.
Isaac Campbell (1-2) earned the win on the mound for the Runnin' Bulldogs, tossing 2.2 scoreless frames, allowing just one base hit with four strikeouts and no walks. Starter
Kyle Ruehlman lasted three innings, giving up a pair of runs on four base hits while fanning two batters.
Sebasten Boivin worked 1.1 innings, allowing one run on one hit with two strikeouts.
Kyle Skidmore tossed the final two innings, giving up no runs on one base hit with three strikeouts to record his first save of the season.
Colton Hutt (1-3) took the loss on the bump for the Lancers, allowing four runs on four hits with six strikeouts in 3.2 innings of work in the start.
With today's win, Gardner-Webb has now swept each of its last two weekend conference series, and has won seven straight league games.
Gardner-Webb returns to action Tuesday evening, traveling to Radford for a midweek Big South battle. First pitch is scheduled for 6:00 pm at Carter Memorial Stadium in Radford, Va.
