
Photo by: © Tim Cowie | GWUPhotos.com
Gardner-Webb Takes 15-4 Win Over UNC Asheville in Midweek Play Tuesday Night
April 20, 2021 | Baseball
BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – The Runnin' Bulldogs flexed their power at the plate, scoring a season-high 15 runs to earn a 15-4 win over visiting UNC Asheville in Big South Conference action Tuesday night at Bill Masters Field at John Henry Moss Stadium.
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Gardner-Webb (15-16, 14-8 Big South) matched its season high with 16 base hits and went 8-for-20 with runners in scoring position.
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UNC Asheville (10-20, 9-13 Big South) jumped out to an early lead in the top of the first as Brandon Lankford hit a solo home run to dead center.
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The Runnin' Bulldogs answered in the bottom half of the first inning, loading the bases with no outs to set up a two-run single by Eric Jones. A fielding error by Asheville pitcher Trey Jernigan on the play also allowed Cam Pearcey to safely cross home plate, followed by a RBI single by Patrick Ferguson gave GWU a 4-1 lead.
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Gardner-Webb seized control of the contest in the third, scoring three runs on back-to-back ground-rule doubles by Ferguson and Parkhurst to set the score at 7-1.
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Asheville scored once in the top of the fourth on the second solo home run of the contest by Lankford.
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GWU expanded its lead to 10-2 in the bottom of the fourth inning, scoring one on a RBI knock up the middle by Jones, followed by a two-run blast to right field by Ferguson, his fourth home run of the season.
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The 'Dogs scored four times in the bottom of the fifth. Mitch McLendon sent two runs across the plate on a triple to center field, and later scored on a groundout by Joe Simone. Pearcey followed with a solo home run to left field, his sixth longball of 2021.
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GWU scored once more in the bottom of the sixth inning on a RBI single through the right side by Ben LaSpaluto, giving the Runnin' Bulldogs a 15-2 lead.
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UNC Asheville scored twice more in the contest, both on solo home runs. Easton Jones connected to left field in the eighth and Kole Harris launched a shot to left field in the top of the ninth.
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Gardner-Webb totaled 16 base hits throughout the contest, led by Ferguson's 4-for-4 effort with a double, home run, and four RBI. Pearcey followed with a 3-for-4 evening at the dish with home run, one RBI, and three runs scored.
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Luke Goodyear (1-0) earned the first win of his collegiate career, allowing two runs on six hits with five strikeouts in five innings of work in the start. Â Corey Treyes tossed three innings, allowing one run on three hits with one strikeout, while Casey Young worked the ninth, allowing one run on one hit with a pair of strikeouts.
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UNC Asheville had 10 hits on the night, led by Lankford, who was 3-for-4 with a pair of home runs.
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Jernigan (0-1) took the loss for Asheville, giving up four runs on four hits with one strikeout while recording just one out in the start.  The Bulldogs used a total of eight arms on the evening.
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Gardner-Webb's homestand continues Friday evening, as the Runnin' Bulldogs open a three-game Big South Conference series against Winthrop. First pitch is slated for 5:00 pm at Bill Masters Field at John Henry Moss Stadium with live coverage on ESPN+ (WatchESPN.com / ESPN App).
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Gardner-Webb (15-16, 14-8 Big South) matched its season high with 16 base hits and went 8-for-20 with runners in scoring position.
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UNC Asheville (10-20, 9-13 Big South) jumped out to an early lead in the top of the first as Brandon Lankford hit a solo home run to dead center.
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The Runnin' Bulldogs answered in the bottom half of the first inning, loading the bases with no outs to set up a two-run single by Eric Jones. A fielding error by Asheville pitcher Trey Jernigan on the play also allowed Cam Pearcey to safely cross home plate, followed by a RBI single by Patrick Ferguson gave GWU a 4-1 lead.
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Gardner-Webb seized control of the contest in the third, scoring three runs on back-to-back ground-rule doubles by Ferguson and Parkhurst to set the score at 7-1.
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Asheville scored once in the top of the fourth on the second solo home run of the contest by Lankford.
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GWU expanded its lead to 10-2 in the bottom of the fourth inning, scoring one on a RBI knock up the middle by Jones, followed by a two-run blast to right field by Ferguson, his fourth home run of the season.
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The 'Dogs scored four times in the bottom of the fifth. Mitch McLendon sent two runs across the plate on a triple to center field, and later scored on a groundout by Joe Simone. Pearcey followed with a solo home run to left field, his sixth longball of 2021.
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GWU scored once more in the bottom of the sixth inning on a RBI single through the right side by Ben LaSpaluto, giving the Runnin' Bulldogs a 15-2 lead.
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UNC Asheville scored twice more in the contest, both on solo home runs. Easton Jones connected to left field in the eighth and Kole Harris launched a shot to left field in the top of the ninth.
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Gardner-Webb totaled 16 base hits throughout the contest, led by Ferguson's 4-for-4 effort with a double, home run, and four RBI. Pearcey followed with a 3-for-4 evening at the dish with home run, one RBI, and three runs scored.
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Luke Goodyear (1-0) earned the first win of his collegiate career, allowing two runs on six hits with five strikeouts in five innings of work in the start. Â Corey Treyes tossed three innings, allowing one run on three hits with one strikeout, while Casey Young worked the ninth, allowing one run on one hit with a pair of strikeouts.
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UNC Asheville had 10 hits on the night, led by Lankford, who was 3-for-4 with a pair of home runs.
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Jernigan (0-1) took the loss for Asheville, giving up four runs on four hits with one strikeout while recording just one out in the start.  The Bulldogs used a total of eight arms on the evening.
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Gardner-Webb's homestand continues Friday evening, as the Runnin' Bulldogs open a three-game Big South Conference series against Winthrop. First pitch is slated for 5:00 pm at Bill Masters Field at John Henry Moss Stadium with live coverage on ESPN+ (WatchESPN.com / ESPN App).
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Players Mentioned
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Goodyear, Luke (1-0)
L: JERNIGAN, Trey (0-1)
Batting:
HR: LANKFORD, Brandon 2 ; HARRIS, Kole 1 ; JONES, Easton 1
RBI: LANKFORD, Brandon 2 ; HARRIS, Kole 1 ; JONES, Easton 1
Base Running:
RUNS: LANKFORD, Brandon 2 ; HARRIS, Kole 1 ; JONES, Easton 1

Batting:
2B: Marcos, Jacob 1 ; Ferguson, Patrick 1 ; Parkhurst, Keiji 1
3B: McLendon, Mitch 1
HR: Pearcey, Cam 1 ; Ferguson, Patrick 1
RBI: McLendon, Mitch 2 ; Simone, Joe 1 ; Pearcey, Cam 1 ; Jones, Eric 3 ; Ferguson, Patrick 4 ; Parkhurst, Keiji 2 ; LaSpaluto, Ben 1
Base Running:
RUNS: McLendon, Mitch 2 ; Simone, Joe 2 ; Pearcey, Cam 3 ; Jones, Eric 3 ; Ferguson, Patrick 2 ; Yates, Carson 1 ; Peroni, Dom 1 ; LaSpaluto, Ben 1
SB: Simone, Joe 1
Game Leaders
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