BOONE, N.C. – Gardner-Webb took a late lead on
Nate Anderson's two-run homer in the ninth, but saw Appalachian State recover to beat the Runnin' Bulldogs 12-11 on Saturday.
The Runnin' Bulldogs (5-5) scored three runs in the top of the ninth to go in front 11-10.
Humberto Torres belted a solo shot to left to lead off the frame and Anderson hit his second long ball of the day with one out and Pete Capobianco on board.
Appalachian State (8-1) got a leadoff single to start the bottom of the night and – after a walk – Gardner-Webb intentionally loaded the bases with an intentional pass.
The strategy worked well, as the lead runner was cut down at home on ground ball to third base. Closer
Dalton Wood recorded a strikeout to get the second out, but cleanup man Hayden Cross hit a two-run double to center for the game winner.
The game was quiet early on, as neither team got on the board until the Mountaineers plated a pair in the fourth on a two-run double with two outs.
Gardner-Webb got those back quickly, getting an RBI single from Anderson in the top of the fifth to drive home
Bo Rusher III – followed by a single from
Jacob Marcos to score Anderson.
Curtis Robison gave the 'Dogs a 3-2 lead with a sacrifice fly and
Alec Burns ripped a double down the left field line to put Gardner-Webb up 4-2.
The Mountaineers got four runs in the bottom of the fifth to retake the lead, continuing a back-and-forth trend that would continue the rest of the way.
Anderson stayed hot at the plate with an RBI double in the top of the sixth to get Gardner-Webb within a run and Torres smacked an RBI double of his own in the seventh to tie the game.
Appalachian responded once again with a run in the bottom of the seventh go go up 7-6 and Gardner-Webb retaliated with an Anderson solo home run in the top of the eighth – a solo shot to right – to tie the score.
Luke Drumheller delivered the big blow for Appalachian State in the bottom of the eighth, hitting a three-run home run to right with one out to put the Mountaineers up 10-7.
That set up the dramatic ninth inning.
Wood (0-1) took the loss for Gardner-Webb, allowing two runs on two hits in 0.2 innings of work out of the pen. Starter
Bobby Alcock scattered six hits and allowed six runs in 4.1 innings in a no decision. GWU used five arms in the game.
Gardner-Webb had 13 hits in the game, with Anderson going 4-for-5 with three runs scored, two home runs and five RBI to lead that effort. Burns came alive with a 3-for-5 day and two RBI and Torres went 2-for-3 with two runs scored, a home run and two RBI to continue his strong start to the season.
Rusher (2-for-5, 2B) also had a pair of hits for the 'Dogs.
Appalachian State had 12 hits in the game, with Drumheller going 3-for-5 with his three-run home run and four RBI to pace that performance.
The two teams will meet again on Sunday afternoon at 1:00 pm.
