RADFORD, Va. – Gardner-Webb scored seven runs in the first three innings to propel the Runnin' Bulldogs to a 9-7 victory at Radford in Big South Conference action Tuesday evening.
Gardner-Webb improves to 11-10 overall and 10-4 in Big South play, earning its eighth consecutive league victory. Radford drops to 13-12 overall and 7-9 in league action.
The Runnin' Bulldogs opened the contest with back-to-back base knocks by
Mitch McLendon and
Ben LaSpaluto, setting up a RBI fielder's choice by
Cam Pearcey to give GWU a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning.
Radford answered in the bottom of the first, as David Bryant tied the game with a solo home run to center field with two outs.
Gardner-Webb seized control of the contest in the top of the second inning.
Patrick Ferguson and
Eric Jones were each walked to lead off the frame, and with one out,
Dom Peroni belted a three-run blast over the left field wall, to give the 'Dogs a 4-1 advantage.
The Runnin' Bulldogs expanded their lead in the top of the third, as back-to-back doubles by Jones and
Bo Rusher drove in three runs to set the score at 7-1.
The Highlanders scratched in the bottom of the fourth when a wild pitch by GWU's
Connor Gleeson allowed Straton Podaras to cross home plate, trimming GWU's lead to 7-2.
Gardner-Webb again expanded its lead in the top of the sixth.
Joe Simone led off by drawing a walk, which was followed by a bunt single by McLendon to put two on with no outs. LaSpaluto followed by belting a double to left field to plate Simone, and later in the inning a sacrifice fly by
Keiji Parkhurst allowed McLendon to cross home plate to give the 'Dogs a 9-2 lead.
Radford attempted to rally in the late innings, with Sean Cheely belting a RBI double in the bottom of the seventh to drive in one run, and in the bottom of the eighth, Cheely launched a grand slam to slice GWU's lead down to two runs.
The Runnin' Bulldogs would thwart any comeback effort by the Highlanders, recording three straight outs in the ninth to seal the game.
Gardner-Webb totaled ten base hits on the evening, led by LaSpaluto who was 3-of-5 with a double and one RBI.
Radford collected six hits throughout the contest, with Cheely doing most of the damage, going 2-for-5 with a double, home run, and five RBI.
Casey Young (1-3) earned the win for GWU on the mound, allowing one run on one hit with one strikeout in 1.1 innings of work. The 'Dogs used a total of seven arms throughout the evening.
Hunter Williams (1-2) took the loss for the Highlanders, giving up four runs on three hits with one strikeout in two innings on the mound.
Gardner-Webb returns to action tomorrow at 5:00 pm, hosting Western Carolina in non-conference action at Bill Masters Field at John Henry Moss Stadium.
