BOILING SPRINGS –
Jacob Marcos scored from second base on an error in the bottom of the 10th inning as Gardner-Webb walked off Western Carolina 10-9 on Tuesday at Bill Masters Field.
The Runnin' Bulldogs (21-32) won their fourth in a row, but needed extra innings after seeing a 9-5 lead evaporate in the ninth.
Marcos led off the bottom of the 10th with a hard single into left and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt.
Alec Burns was intentionally walked and Western Carolina (25-26-1) appeared to have a tailor made double play in order – but the relay throw got away at first base, and Marcos sprinted home for the win.
Gardner-Webb jumped out quickly with a five-run first inning, rallying after the Catamounts took a 1-0 lead.
Marcos led off with a five-pitch walk and stole second with one out. Burns walked and
Curtis Robison drove in a pair with a triple off the wall in right center.
Daegan Brady came through three pitches later with an RBI single and
Peter Capobianco kept the rally going with a single to center to put men on the corners.
Bo Rusher III was plunked to load the bases and
Benino Mendella drove in two more with an RBI single to left.
Western Carolina scored again in the second, but Burns blasted a solo home run in the bottom half for a 6-2 lead. The two teams exchanged runs again in the third, with Capobianco's leadoff single turning into a 7-3 lead after two walks and a passed ball.
The Catamounts pulled within 7-4 after another single run in the fifth, but Gardner-Webb extended its lead in the bottom of the sixth. Marcos led off and was hit by a pitch and Burns came through again with one out – hammering a 3-2 fastball deep over the fence in left for a 9-4 lead.
A walk and two singles with one out in the top of the seventh allowed Western Carolina to inch closer, but a sensational defensive stab by Burns at first base prevented any more damage and closed out the inning.
Gardner-Webb's bullpen ran into trouble in the top of the ninth. A leadoff single and a three consecutive two-out walks pushed Western Carolina's sixth run across and brought All-America shortstop Pascanel Ferreras to the plate as the go-ahead run. Ferreras tied the game with a three-run double before GWU could get back into the dugout.
Carson Yates rapped a two-out double in the bottom of the ninth, but was stranded and the game went into extra innings.
Michael Portella came back out for the 10th and retired Western Carolina in order, setting the stage for the final burst.
The 'Dogs finished with 11 hits, paced by Burns once again. The slugger from Amherst, N.H., went 2-for-3 with a pair of home runs and three RBI. Robison (2-for-5), Brady (2-for-5) and Capobianco (2-for-3) also had a pair of hits. Marcos, Yates and Mendella also had knocks for Gardner-Webb.
Lucas Gardner worked 3.0 innings in his first career start, allowing three runs on six hits with a pair of strikeouts.
Connor Gleeson and
Kyle Skidmore came on to work 1.1 scoreless innings in relief. Portella (3-2) got the win, working 1.1 innings and allowing one hit. He struck out a pair to end the 10th inning.
Western Carolina's Cole Beverlin was tagged with the loss in relief, allowing just one earned run in 1.2 innings of work. The Catamounts used nine arms with varying degrees of success throughout the game.
Ferreras led a 13-hit offensive effort, going 4-for-6 with three doubles and four RBI. Daniel Walsh went 3-for-6.
Gardner-Webb will close out Big South Conference play this weekend, beginning on Thursday night at North Carolina A&T. The Runnin' Bulldogs and Aggies will play at 6:00 pm in War Memorial Stadium.
