GREENSBORO, N.C. - Gardner-Webb jumped out to an 11-0 lead Friday afternoon and held on for an 12-7 win over North Carolina A&T in Big South Conference baseball action.
The Runnin' Bulldogs (22-33, 11-12 Big South) scored three runs in the first, two in the third, three in the fourth, two more in the sixth and another in the seventh to take a big lead at historic War Memorial Stadium.
The Aggies (14-38, 2-21 Big South) rallied with seven runs in the bottom of the eighth against the GWU bullpen, but the 'Dogs responded and held on.
Gardner-Webb wasted little time getting on the scoreboard Friday.
Jacob Marcos stayed hot, leading off with a single through the left side and stole third after a walk was issued to
AJ Jones. Marcos scored on the play, sprinting home when the throw sailed long.
Alec Burns followed with a walk and
Daegan Brady pushed the lead to 2-0 with an RBI single up the middle.
Bo Rusher III made the score 3-0 with another RBI single.
Benino Mendella belted a two-run home run with two outs in the third to make the score 5-0 and Marcos started another rally in the fourth. He led off with a single, stole two bases and scored on a Burns single up the middle.
Curtis Robison got into the fray with an RBI double and
Peter Capobianco drove home Robison with a sacrifice fly for an 8-0 lead.
That lead was static until the sixth. Marcos again led off with a single and Jones drilled a two-run home run to right field for a double digit advantage. After Robison doubled with one out in the eighth, Brady plated another run with a hit to left center.
North Carolina A&T made its move in the bottom half of the inning. The Aggies used seven hits, took advantage of two errors and left just one man to pull back within four runs.
Gardner-Webb got a leadoff single from
Alex Ray in the ninth and extended the lead to 12-7 when
Chris McKenna pinch hit and drove home Ray with a single down the first base line.
The Aggies loaded the bases with one out in the ninth to get the tying run on deck, but Portella induced a 1-6-3 double play to end the game.
Tyler Switalski was terrific in his final start of the regular season, tying a season-high 7.0 innings of work. He fanned six, walked just two and did not allow a run on four hits. Michael Portella came on with two outs in the eighth and closed the door in that inning with a strikeout and finished with 1.1 scoreless innings of relief.
Gardner-Webb pounded out 16 hits in the game, led by Brady's 3-for-5 day at the plate. Marcos (2-for-3), Robison (2-for-5), Rusher (2-for-4) and Ray (2-for-5) also had two hits in the win.
The two teams will wrap up the regular season on Saturday with a 1:00 pm first pitch.
