CLINTON, S.C. – Gardner-Webb got another strong performance from
Bobby Alcock and collected 10 hits in a 6-2 win over Presbyterian Friday night to open a key Big South weekend.
The Runnin' Bulldogs (25-12, 11-5 Big South) won their third game in a row in the process.
Gardner-Webb scored single runs in the second and third innings to go in front early and got a three-run homer in the sixth from
Trevor Mattson to take complete control.
Mark Black led off the second with a single into the hole and scored on Mattson's sacrifice fly to give Gardner-Webb the lead.
Jacob Marcos led off the third with a double into left and scored on a
Curtis Robison RBI hit to right.
Alec Burns appeared to give GWU a 3-0 lead one batter later, stroking a single into right on a 2-2 pitch to plate Robison. The umpires stepped in and ruled that a clock violation had occurred on the Presbyterian pitcher – sending Burns back to the plate and adding a ball for a 3-2 count. The move benefitted the Blue Hose (15-24, 7-9 Big South), as Burns grounded out on the next pitch and Gardner-Webb left Robison stranded.
The 2-0 lead was enough for Alcock, who mowed through the Presbyterian order until Gardner-Webb got its decisive blow from Mattson.
Black started the rally in the sixth with a leadoff single and
Jacob McCaskey walked to put two on board with one out. A ground ball put the rally in jeopardy, but Mattson belted the eighth pitch of his at bat over the fence in left for a 5-0 lead.
Presbyterian scratched across a run in the eighth to break up the shutout against the GWU bullpen, but a Marcos single and a Robison double pushed the Gardner-Webb lead to 6-1 in the ninth. A solo home run by the Blue Hose in the bottom of the ninth accounted for the final margin.
Alcock (6-1) was magnificent again, scattering four singles and striking out seven in 7.0 shutout innings.
Marcos (2-for-3), Robison (2-for-5, 2 RBI) and Black (2-for-5) led Gardner-Webb's 10-hit effort on offense. Mattson (1-for-3, HR) drove in four of the team's six runs.
Brody Fair led Presbyterian with three hits. Starter Duncan Howard (2-3) was tagged with the loss after allowing five runs on seven hits through 6.0 innings pitched.
The two teams will be back in action on Saturday at 3:00 pm (ESPN+).
