BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – Gardner-Webb lost its Big South Conference series finale by an 11-6 score Sunday afternoon to USC Upstate.
The Runnin' Bulldogs (27-19, 12-9 Big South) dropped its sixth in a row in the process and enters the final two weeks of the regular season in a tie for third in the league standings.
The Spartans (32-16, 17-4 Big South) took the first lead of the game for the third time in as many games, using a sacrifice fly to go up 1-0 in the top of the first.
That lead grew in the second with three runs scored, before Gardner-Webb could answer.
Alec Burns led off the bottom of the second inning and was plunked. A sacrifice bunt moved Burns into scoring position and
Humberto Torres laced an RBI single with two outs to trim the Spartans' lead to 4-1. Gardner-Webb loaded the bases with a
Peter Capobianco walk, but a pick off play at second base ended the threat.
Upstate pushed ahead further with two runs in the third and scored another in the fourth to go up 7-1.
Gardner-Webb mounted a rally in the bottom of the fifth, scoring three runs to pull within 7-4.
Curtis Robison lined a single down the line past first base with one out and stole second easily to get into scoring position.
Mark Black walked and Burns followed with a five-pitch walk to load the bases.
Nate Anderson ripped a pitch to deep center for a sacrifice fly and
Trevor Mattson followed with a double down the left field line to score a pair.
Gardner-Webb's bullpen held the Spartans scoreless in the sixth, but the visitors tacked on a run win the top of the seventh. A two-run home run by Mattson in the bottom of the seventh cut the lead to 8-6, but a three-run burst by Upstate in the top of the eighth put the game out of reach.
GWU starter
Reid Bertram (1-5) was tagged with the loss, allowing four runs on four hits in 2.0 innings of work. The Runnin' Bulldogs collected seven hits in the game, with Mattson (2-for-5, HR, 4 RBI) and Rusher (2-for-3, 2B) each with a pair.
Al Holguin (3-1) picked up the win in 3.2 innings of relief work for Upstate, allowing three hits but no earned runs with three strikeouts. Mathieu Curtis took a no decision, allowing four runs on four hits in 4.1 innings pitched. Chase Matheny worked a perfect ninth to end the game.
The Spartans had 15 hits, with Kyle Henington (3-for-5, 2B, RBI) leading that charge. Five different Upstate batters had at least two hits in the game.
Gardner-Webb will be on the road for its next five games, beginning on Tuesday at North Carolina (ACC Network Extra/WatchESPN.com).
