RADFORD, Va. – Gardner-Webb scored seven runs in the top of the second inning Friday and rolled to a 12-2 win at Radford in Big South Conference baseball action.
The Runnin' Bulldogs (11-20, 2-5 Big South) finished the game with 12 hits, drew 10 walks and enjoyed their best offensive outing since league play started.
Peter Capobianco led the way with three hits (3-for-4), four RBI and two runs scored at the plate, taking full advantage of his cleanup spot in the order.
Joe Simeone picked up the win, going 7.0 innings and allowing just two runs on eight hits. He struck out seven and did not issue a walk while throwing 116 pitches.
The fun started for Gardner-Webb when Capobianco led off the second with a walk.
Daegan Brady followed with a double to right field to put both men in scoring position, and catcher
Humberto Torres came through with a two-run single after working a 3-1 count.
AJ Jones followed with another walk and
Jacob Marcos was plunked on an 0-2 pitch to load the sacks.
Carson Yates knocked in a run with a single to center field and
Alex Ray coaxed an RBI base on balls for a 4-0 lead. Yates came home on a wild pitch for a 5-0 lead and Capobianco belted a two-run double to center to cap the rally.
Radford (8-21, 2-8 Big South) scored a run in the bottom half of the inning, but that gain was erased when Torres blasted his first home run as a Runnin' Bulldog to lead off the third – going opposite field for an 8-1 edge. Capobianco pushed the lead to 10-1 in the top of the fourth, hammering a 1-1 pitch to right field – another shot the other way – for a two-run home run.
Nick Cappozi drove in Robison with a sacrifice fly in the sixth for a double figures lead, before the Highlanders plated their second run in the bottom half.
Gardner-Webb got going again in the top of the ninth, getting a walk from Jones with one away and another single from Yates to push the lead to 12-2. Jones advanced to third on the play and scored on a fielding error in the outfield.
In addition to Capobianco's big day with the bat, Gardner-Webb got a career-best day from Yates (3-for-5, RBI, run) an Torres (2-for-5, HR, 3 RBI). Brady (2-for-4) also had a pair of hits. Robison (1-for-3, 2 runs) and
Nate Anderson (1-for-2) rounded out the offensive standouts for the 'Dogs on Friday.
Lenny Washington came on in relief to toss a scoreless eighth and
Huntley Hacker finished the game out of the pen.
Radford managed 10 hits in the game, but struck out 10 times and left seven men on base. Avery Spencer led the way with a pair of knocks.
Gene McGough took the loss, allowing six runs on three hits and two walks in 1.1 innings of work.
The two teams will play the second game of the series on Saturday afternoon. First pitch is set for 2:00 pm (ESPN+).
