SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Gardner-Webb used a four-run burst midway through the game to pull even, but saw Wofford score three runs down the stretch and dropped a 7-4 decision to the Terriers at Russell C. King Field.
The Runnin' Bulldogs (9-14) battled on Friday night, but could not score on the Terriers bullpen after tying the game, 4-4, in the top of the fourth. GWU had nine base hits in the game – with eight of those coming through the first five innings – and stranded seven runners.
Wofford took an early lead when John Dempsey hit a solo home run in the bottom of the first. The Terriers scored two more runs in the second inning on balk calls and pushed that lead to 4-0 with a run in the third.
Gardner-Webb got a pair of runners into scoring position in the top of the third when
Benino Mendella and
AJ Jones ripped back-to-back singles to lead off the frame and moved up on a wild pitch. The 'Dogs couldn't get either man home, however.
After Wofford extended its lead to 4-0, the Runnin' Bulldogs responded quickly in the top of the fourth.
Alec Burns led off with a line drive solo shot over the fence in left, hammering a 2-0 pitch.
Peter Capobianco followed suit, crushing a 1-2 pitch over the fence in left center to trim the lead to 4-2 and swing momentum.
Mendella came through again with a two-out single and Jones drove him home with a long double off the fence in left center.
Jacob Marcos ripped an RBI double down the third base line on the first pitch he saw and Jones trotted home to tie the game.
Wofford regained the lead for good in the sixth, doing damage with two outs. Lawson Hill singled to right center and Brennan Dorighi brought him home with a two-out double. After Dorighi swiped third base, Nolen Hester singled into right for a 6-4 lead.
Curtis Robison reached on a bunt with one out in the top of the seventh, stole second and moved to third on a ground ball – but was left 90 feet from home plate as the inning came to a close.
Wofford added an insurance run in the bottom of the seventh, with Dempsey's RBI single the big blow, and Gardner-Webb did not get any more runs across in a quick final two innings.
Joe Simeone (3-3) battled very hard over 5.2 innings but took the mound loss for Gardner-Webb. He scattered six hits, allowed six runs and fanned seven batters. Michael Portella worked 2.1 innings and allowed one run out of the pen.
Mendella and Jones each had two hits to lead Gardner-Webb's offensive production.
Wofford's Holden Wilder (4-0) picked up the win, hurling 2.1 scoreless innings. Dalton Rhadans worked the final 3.0 innings for the save.
Dempsey had two of Wofford's nine hits in the game. Six different Terriers had hits in the game.
The two teams will move north for Saturday's second game, playing at Bill Masters Field/John Henry Moss Stadium in Boiling Springs, N.C., at 4:00 pm.
