CLINTON, S.C. – The Gardner-Webb (11-12, 1-4) baseball team blasted a pair of grand slams in an 11-run eighth inning, but it was not enough as the Runnin' Bulldogs could not hold a late lead during a 14-13 loss at Presbyterian (11-13, 3-2) on Saturday evening at the PC Baseball Complex.
Joe Stanzione led GWU with five RBIs and two runs scored, including his first home run of the season, one of two grand slams for Gardner-Webb, after coming in during a pinch-hit role for Tanner Thomas, who also went deep for the 'Dawgs in the game. Also, pinch hitting, Matt Ilgenfritz connected on a grand slam while finishing with four RBIs.
Sledding was tough for the Runnin' Bulldogs during the early innings as Presbyterian exploded for a 9-0 lead after scoring six runs in the second, one in the third, and two in the fourth.
Gardner-Webb was finally able to breakthrough on the scoreboard in the top of the sixth after Thomas blasted his second homer in as many games, a two-run shot to center, scoring Merik Carter who singled down the right field line with one out.
The Blue Hose came back with a single run in the bottom half of the frame followed by two more in the seventh, increasing their lead to 12-2 entering the final two innings.
However, GWU put together its best offensive at-bat of the season in the visitor's half of the eighth, plating a season-high 11 runs on six hits, storming all the way back to take a 13-12 lead in game two of the series.
Pinch hitting, Ethan Liao started the rally with a base hit to center before back-to-back walks loaded the bases for the Runnin' Bulldogs. Stanzione collected an RBI the hard way after being hit by the pitch before Ilgenfritz hammered a long home run to left for the 'Dawgs first grand slam of the season.
The productivity was just beginning as Carson Willoughby drew a walk before advancing to second on a base hit to center by Gavin Johnson. Drew Ripepi followed that up with a run-scoring hit to left center. Garrett Macias tallied a hit of his own while loading the bases once more. Following an RBI base on balls for Liao, Stanzione did the remarkable, blasting the second grand slam of the frame while giving Gardner-Webb a 13-12 lead.
However, Presbyterian came back in the bottom of the eighth with two runs, taking the lead back following a two-RBI single off the bat of Aaron Hobson with two outs. The Runnin' Bulldogs went down in order in the top of the ninth while eventually falling in game two, 14-13.
The two teams will wrap up their three-game series tomorrow afternoon with a 1 p.m. start time.
