BOILING SPRINGS – Gardner-Webb rallied in the middle innings once again and pulled away for a 9-4 win over Presbyterian Saturday in a crucial Big South Conference battle.
Two lengthy weather delays – one pregame and one after the first inning – hindered the rhythm for both teams but the Runnin' Bulldogs were able to surge in front with bursts in the fourth and fifth innings.
Slugger
Alec Burns was again at the center of the rally.
Trailing 3-1, Gardner-Webb scored three in the fourth to take the lead. Burns led off with a walk and moved to second on a wild pitch.
Curtis Robison rolled a single through the right side to put men on the corners and a high chopper to third by
Humberto Torres plated Burns to trim the lead to 3-2.
Daegan Brady reached on an error – and moved to second on the throw – as Robison sprinted home to tie the game. A double from
AJ Jones pushed Gardner-Webb in front and more runs came in the bottom of the fifth.
Burns was the big bat in that inning, hammering a two-run home run to right center – his 10th of the season – for a 6-3 lead.
Presbyterian didn't go away, pulling within 6-4 on a solo home run in the top of the sixth by Ryan Ouzts. The Blue Hose got two more men into scoring position after a hit batter and a single, but Robinson caught a hard line drive to deep right on a sprint to end the threat.
The Runnin' Bulldogs got that run back with clutch hitting in the bottom of the seventh. Burns got things started with with a one-out double and scored on a slicing single to left by Robison for an insurance run and a 7-4 lead.
Gardner-Webb added more insurance in the bottom of the eighth after Brady led off with a single to left and scored on a deep double off the wall in left from
Benino Mendella. Mendella later scored on a delayed double steal for the final margin.
Switalski (4-4) picked up the win, working 5.1 innings with four runs and six hits allowed. He struck out four batters in his second mound victory in as many weeks. Michael Portella came on in relief and worked 3.2 innings for his first save of the season. He allowed just one hit and struck out the final batter he faced to secure the game.
Burns was the catalyst at the plate for his team's 11-hit attack, going 3-for-3 with three runs scored a home run and three RBI. He has driven in seven runs over the past two games. Robison went 4-for-4 with an RBI and has eight hits over his past three games. Marcos (1-for-3), Brady (1-for-3), Jones (1-for-3) and Mendella (1-for-4) also had hits for Gardner-Webb.
Presbyterian starter Duncan Howard (7-3) took the loss, allowing five runs (three earned) over 4.0 innings pitched. Clark Dearman pitched the final 4.0 innings in relief, tossing 79 pitches out of the bullpen.
The Blue Hose had seven hits, with Ouzts leading the way with a 2-for-3 effort and a home run.
The two teams will wrap up the series on Sunday afternoon at 2:00 pm. Freshman
Luke Osteen is expected to take the mound for Gardner-Webb.
