University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Saturday, March 19
Boiling Springs, N.C.
2 p.m.
UNC Asheville
7
at
12
Gardner-Webb
Gardner-Webb Evens Series With Asheville
03.19.2011 | Baseball
BOILING SPRINGS - Gardner-Webb rapped out 17 hits and used a very solid bullpen effort Saturday to beat UNC Asheville 12-7 and even the Big South Conference series.
The Runnin' Bulldogs (13-4, 1-1 Big South) fell behind early, as UNC Asheville (6-11, 1-1 Big South) mounted a three-run rally with two outs in the top of the first. The visiting Bulldogs got an RBI double from Patrick Koontz and a two-run home run from Grant Gajdosz to jump ahead.
Gardner-Webb wasted no time pulling even, getting a single from Benji Jackson to lead off the bottom half of the first and trimming the lead to 3-1 on Jake Watts' RBI double to right. Dusty Quattlebaum followed with a single, Brad Collins walked and Adam McFarland delievered an RBI single to left to cut the lead to 3-2. Aaron Miller tied the score with a long sacrifice fly, before Asheville starter Robert McIntosh could work out of the inning.
The early offensive fireworks resulted in a 37-minute first inning.
GWU went up 5-3 with a pair of runs in the second, getting an RBI single from Watts that turned into two runs when the ball was booted in centerfield - allowing Jackson and Daniel Merck both to cross the plate.
Asheville surged in front again in the third, however, as McIntosh led off with a walk and scored on a two-run home run to left center by Koontz that tied the game. A single from Gajdosz followed, and ended GWU starter Conner Scarborough's day. Relief man Brock Wilson came on to record a pair of outs, but Cat Carter blooped in a single to right to give the visitors a 6-5 lead.
Gardner-Webb was held scoreless in the third and fourth innings, but would storm in front for good with a decisive, three-run fifth.
Quattlebaum singled and moved to second on a wild pitch, and scored on an RBI up the middle from Collins. Miller followed with a one-out single and both he and Collins moved into scoring position after a wild pitch from Asheville reliever Grier Harrington. John Harris drove in a pair with a single to center to give Gardner-Webb an 8-6 lead, before Harrington could halt the rally - knocking down a line drive from Zeke Blanton and fanning Jackson to end the frame.
Wilson pitched around a bunt single and a wild pitch to get a pair of outs in the top of the sixth, but Asheville still had an excellent scoring opportunity after a walk put runners at the corners. GWU went to its bullpen again, however, and southpaw Brett Stackhouse fanned Koontz on three pitches to end the inning.
Merck led off the sixth with a solo home run to push the lead to 9-6 and Gardner-Webb put the game way in the bottom of the seventh - plating three more runs on an RBI double from Harris, an error after a Blanton single that scored Harris and a sacrifice fly by Merck.
Asheville added its final run in the eighth, turning a walk a single and a double play ground ball into a run - but would not threaten any further.
Wilson (2-0) picked up the win in relief, hurling 3.2 scoreless innings with only three singles allowed. Stackhouse (1.1 IP) and Matt Leidberg (2.0 IP, 1 run) finished out the game for GWU. Scarborough worked 2.0 innings and allowed six runs on seven hits in his first no decision of the season. GWU remained unbeaten (4-0), however, with Scarborough on the hill.
Harris (3-for-4, 2B, 3 RBI) paced Gardner-Webb's 17-hit offense, with Merck (2-for-4, HR, 2 RBI), Watts (2-for-5, 2B, 2 RBI), Quattlebaum (2-for-5, 2 runs), Collins (2-for-4, 2B, RBI) and Miller (2-for-3, 2 runs, RBI) also collecting multiple hits in the game.
Harrington (2-3) was saddled with the loss out of the bullpen, giving up three runs on four hits with a walk and two strikeouts. McIntosh lasted 2.0 innings as well in the start, allowing five earned runs on seven hits with two walks.
Asheville had 11 hits in the game, with Jordan Lurie (3-for-5) leading the way. Koontz (2-for-5, 2B, HR, 3 RBI) and Gajdosz (2-for-5, HR, 2 RBI) also had big days offensively.
Both teams will meet in the series rubber match on Sunday at 2:00 pm at John Henry Moss Stadium / Bill Masters Field.
The Runnin' Bulldogs (13-4, 1-1 Big South) fell behind early, as UNC Asheville (6-11, 1-1 Big South) mounted a three-run rally with two outs in the top of the first. The visiting Bulldogs got an RBI double from Patrick Koontz and a two-run home run from Grant Gajdosz to jump ahead.
Gardner-Webb wasted no time pulling even, getting a single from Benji Jackson to lead off the bottom half of the first and trimming the lead to 3-1 on Jake Watts' RBI double to right. Dusty Quattlebaum followed with a single, Brad Collins walked and Adam McFarland delievered an RBI single to left to cut the lead to 3-2. Aaron Miller tied the score with a long sacrifice fly, before Asheville starter Robert McIntosh could work out of the inning.
The early offensive fireworks resulted in a 37-minute first inning.
GWU went up 5-3 with a pair of runs in the second, getting an RBI single from Watts that turned into two runs when the ball was booted in centerfield - allowing Jackson and Daniel Merck both to cross the plate.
Asheville surged in front again in the third, however, as McIntosh led off with a walk and scored on a two-run home run to left center by Koontz that tied the game. A single from Gajdosz followed, and ended GWU starter Conner Scarborough's day. Relief man Brock Wilson came on to record a pair of outs, but Cat Carter blooped in a single to right to give the visitors a 6-5 lead.
Gardner-Webb was held scoreless in the third and fourth innings, but would storm in front for good with a decisive, three-run fifth.
Quattlebaum singled and moved to second on a wild pitch, and scored on an RBI up the middle from Collins. Miller followed with a one-out single and both he and Collins moved into scoring position after a wild pitch from Asheville reliever Grier Harrington. John Harris drove in a pair with a single to center to give Gardner-Webb an 8-6 lead, before Harrington could halt the rally - knocking down a line drive from Zeke Blanton and fanning Jackson to end the frame.
Wilson pitched around a bunt single and a wild pitch to get a pair of outs in the top of the sixth, but Asheville still had an excellent scoring opportunity after a walk put runners at the corners. GWU went to its bullpen again, however, and southpaw Brett Stackhouse fanned Koontz on three pitches to end the inning.
Merck led off the sixth with a solo home run to push the lead to 9-6 and Gardner-Webb put the game way in the bottom of the seventh - plating three more runs on an RBI double from Harris, an error after a Blanton single that scored Harris and a sacrifice fly by Merck.
Asheville added its final run in the eighth, turning a walk a single and a double play ground ball into a run - but would not threaten any further.
Wilson (2-0) picked up the win in relief, hurling 3.2 scoreless innings with only three singles allowed. Stackhouse (1.1 IP) and Matt Leidberg (2.0 IP, 1 run) finished out the game for GWU. Scarborough worked 2.0 innings and allowed six runs on seven hits in his first no decision of the season. GWU remained unbeaten (4-0), however, with Scarborough on the hill.
Harris (3-for-4, 2B, 3 RBI) paced Gardner-Webb's 17-hit offense, with Merck (2-for-4, HR, 2 RBI), Watts (2-for-5, 2B, 2 RBI), Quattlebaum (2-for-5, 2 runs), Collins (2-for-4, 2B, RBI) and Miller (2-for-3, 2 runs, RBI) also collecting multiple hits in the game.
Harrington (2-3) was saddled with the loss out of the bullpen, giving up three runs on four hits with a walk and two strikeouts. McIntosh lasted 2.0 innings as well in the start, allowing five earned runs on seven hits with two walks.
Asheville had 11 hits in the game, with Jordan Lurie (3-for-5) leading the way. Koontz (2-for-5, 2B, HR, 3 RBI) and Gajdosz (2-for-5, HR, 2 RBI) also had big days offensively.
Both teams will meet in the series rubber match on Sunday at 2:00 pm at John Henry Moss Stadium / Bill Masters Field.
Players Mentioned
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