SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Gardner-Webb (21-27, 8-13) baseball team battled early but could not keep pace with a big middle-inning surge from USC Upstate, falling 13–2 Sunday afternoon in the final game of a three-game set.
Gardner-Webb struck first in the top of the third inning and briefly grabbed momentum. After Thad Ector reached and worked his way into scoring position, Merik Carter delivered the biggest swing of the day for the Runnin' Bulldogs, launching a two-run home run to put Gardner-Webb ahead 2–0. The blast was Carter's 10th of the season and accounted for both RBIs for the Dawgs in the contest.
The lead was short-lived, however, as USC Upstate responded immediately in the bottom half of the inning. The Spartans strung together several hits to score six runs in the third, flipping the game in their favor and putting Gardner-Webb into comeback mode. Upstate continued to apply pressure in the fourth inning, adding another six runs to stretch the lead to 12–2 and create separation that the Runnin' Bulldogs could not overcome.
Gardner-Webb collected five hits on the afternoon. Carter led the way with a 2-for-2 performance and two RBIs, while Matt Ilgenfritz added two hits including a double. Ector also reached base and scored one of the Runnin' Bulldogs' runs while recording a double of his own.
On the mound, Reid Bertram started for the Runnin' Bulldogs and worked 2.1 innings before Colby Putnam and Colby Humphries combined to finish the game in relief.
Gardner-Webb will return to the diamond on Tuesday, May 5 as it plays host to Wofford in a non-conference midweek tilt. Game time is set for 6 p.m. at John Henry Moss Stadium.
