CULLOWHEE, N.C. – Western Carolina scored seven runs in the second inning to take an early lead and Gardner-Webb dropped a 14-2 road decision on Wednesday.
The Runnin' Bulldogs (10-20) finished with five hits and scored runs in the third and the eighth against the Catamounts (14-15). Gardner-Webb used nine pitchers in the game, with starter
Drew Janssen working 1.1 innings in a scheduled staff day on the mound.
Western Carolina rapped out three two-run hits in the second inning and capped the seven-run burst with a sacrifice fly to go up 7-0. Gardner-Webb got a one-out double from
Humberto Torres and a sacrifice fly from
Jacob Marcos to cut the lead to 7-1 in the third.
The Catamounts used a two-run home run to power a four-run fourth inning and scored three runs in the sixth on a three-run round tripper to cap their scoring.
Chris McKenna's RBI single accounted for Gardner-Webb's run in the eighth.
Torres went 2-for-4 with a double to lead the Runnin' Bulldogs at the plate. Marcos (1-for-2),
Daegan Brady (1-for-3) and McKenna (1-for-1) also had hits. GWU also drew five walks in the game and left eight men on base.
Janssen (0-4) took the loss on the mound, allowing two runs on three hits with a strikeout.
Western Carolina had 12 hits in the game, led by Immanuel Wilder with a 3-for-4 day at the dish.
Gardner-Webb will be back in action on Friday, traveling to Radford to resume Big South Conference play.
