BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. –
Eric Jones hit a pair of two-run home runs, but Gardner-Webb would drop a 9-6 decision to visiting Radford in midweek Big South Conference action Tuesday night at Bill Masters Field at John Henry Moss Stadium.
Gardner-Webb (23-19, 22-11 Big South) claimed a 2-1 lead over Radford (19-21, 13-9 Big South) in the bottom of the first inning as Jones belted a two-run shot to center field.
The Highlanders answered in the top of the second, taking a 4-2 lead on a three-run home run by Garrett Matheny.
GWU tied the game in the bottom of the third on Jones' second home run of the day, a two-run blast to left field. Jones now has five home runs in 2021.
Radford reclaimed the lead in the top of the fifth, stringing together four base hits, capped by a RBI single by Anthony Galati followed by a three-run home run to left field by Will Harless, setting the score at 8-4.
The Runnin' Bulldogs trimmed their deficit in half in the bottom of the fifth inning on another two-run home run, this time by
Patrick Ferguson to dead center field, his ninth home run of the season.
Neither team scratched again until the top of the ninth when a fielder's choice off the bat of Straton Podaras allowed one run to score, giving the Highlanders a 9-6 lead.
Gardner-Webb had six hits on the evening, led by Jones (2-for-4, 2 HR, 4 RBI).
Corey Treyes (0-1) took the loss on the mound for GWU, giving up four runs on four hits in one inning of action. Starter
Luke Goodyear lasted four innings, allowing four runs to score on five base hits.
Kyle Skidmore recorded seven outs, allowing no runs on four hits with three strikeouts, and
Langdon Wilson tossed 1.2 innings, giving up one run on one hit with a pair of strikeouts.
The Highlanders totaled 14 base hits, paced by David Bryant (3-for-5, 3B, RBI) and Jalen Buster (3-for-4).
Hunter Williams (3-3) earned the win for Radford, allowing one run on one base hit with one strikeout in 1.2 innings on the mound. Starter Landon Higgerson lasted 2.1 innings, allowing four runs on four hits with a pair of strikeouts. Bruce Hudson worked three frames, allowing one run on one hit with two strikeouts. Alex Perkins tossed the final two innings, giving up no runs or hits with three strikeouts to record his sixth save of the season.
