DAVIDSON, N.C. – The Gardner-Webb baseball team was unable to hold a late lead during a 14-11 defeat at Davidson on Tuesday evening on Wilson Field.
Dale Francis Jr. led the way for the Runnin' Bulldogs, collecting three hits in four at-bats, including his team-leading 11th homerun of the season while driving in seven runs. Ryan Kennell also had a productive game, going 3-for-4 with three runs scored and an RBI.
The 'Dawgs jumped in the driver's seat early in the game, posting a trio of runs in the top of the first following a three-run blast off the bat of Francis Jr.
However, that lead did not last long as Davidson came back with four runs of its own in the bottom half of the first, taking the one-run advantage while kickstarting a high-scoring affair for both sides.
The Wildcats added a single run to the lead in the second before GWU came right back in the top of the third with a pair of runs, knotting the score at 5-5. Gardner-Webb benefited on four consecutive walks as Francis Jr. earned another RBI while Ethan Liao pulled the visitors even with a sacrifice fly.
Once again, Davidson pushed back ahead with four runs during its at-bat in the third, powered by a pair of two-run homeruns by Putnam and Canon.
The Runnin' Bulldogs chipped away at the deficit in the top of the fourth, plating three runs on two hits. After the first two batters reached, Lawson Knight and Kennell came through with back-to-back RBI singles before Knight came around the bases to eventually steal home on a double steal.
Davidson added a run in the bottom of the fifth, but the Runnin' Bulldogs were able to battle back and even the score at 10-all with two runs in the sixth following a clutch 2-RBI base hit from Francis Jr.
After a scoreless seventh, GWU regained the lead in the top of the eighth, capitalizing on defensive miscues by the Wildcats defense.
Unfortunately, the tables turned in the bottom of the eighth as Davidson took advantage of a costly error with two outs, scoring four unearned runs while eventually taking the game 14-11.
Gardner-Webb will return to conference action this weekend, beginning a three-game series with Longwood on Friday, March 28. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.
