Boiling Springs, N.C. – Gardner-Webb scored eight runs in the home half of the fourth inning to erase Western Carolina's one-run lead from the top of the frame as the Runnin' Bulldogs dealt the Catamounts an 11-4 road loss in midweek nonconference play Tuesday on Bill Masters Field at John Henry Moss Stadium.
The Runnin' Bulldogs (10-8) used a pair of two-run doubles, a run-scoring single, and two home runs in the decisive eight-run fourth. The home squad tacked on three in the fifth with two scoring on a single and the 11th run crossing on an infield error.
Hayden Friese (2-for-5) and
Jack Spyke (2-for-4) doubled in two-hit efforts with Spyke driving home a run on a sixth inning single.
Elijah Smith (2-for-4) rounded out WCU's trio with multiple hits, two singles, and an RBI.
Jaylen Jones (1-for-2) reached base three times with a single and two walks, plating a late run on a bases loaded fielder's choice.
For Gardner-Webb, Ryan Kennell drove home four on a 3-for-5 effort with a double and Garrett Macias singled three times in his 3-for-5 showing. Tanner Thomas hit a two-run home run in the eight-run fourth, with Dale Francis hitting his 10th homer of the year.
Friese led off the top of the fourth with his second hit of the day on a single through the left side where
Brayden Corn sacrificed him to second. A right-side infield groundout by
Jaylen Jones moved Friese to third where he scored on an inning-extending infield error that gave WCU the 1-0 lead.
Following Gardner-Webb's eight-run bottom of the fourth, Spyke opened the fifth with a double to right-center. With two aboard, Smith sharply singled up the middle allowing Spyke to score to trim the deficit back to six, 8-2. But the Catamounts were unable to cut into the margin any further.
The Runnin' Bulldogs then tacked on three insurance markers in the bottom with a two-run single by Kennell and the final run scoring on what was ruled an infield error.
In the sixth, WCU loaded the bases with a trio of walks before Spyke plated a run on a single into left field.
Jaylen Jones reached on a bases loaded fielder's choice to drive in a run that provided the final tally.
Cannon Pickell struck out six over three and a third scoreless innings in the start but did not factor into the decision. Freshman
Gavin Maines (0-1) was saddled with the loss after allowing four runs on two hits with a pair of walks out of the bullpen. Relievers
Bryant Kimbrell and
Evan Langston both posted strikeouts with Langston working a season-long 2.2 innings of one-hit, scoreless relief.
Davis Budd struck out two in an inning and a third of hitless, scoreless relief.
Gardner-Webb's Jack Iannibelli (1-0) was credited with the win as the third GWU pitcher, working around two hits in an inning of scoreless relief. Gavin Schmitt gave up an unearned run on four hits over a four-inning start with a strikeout. Relievers John Pfeffer, Jerek Hobb, and Devin Pressley each struck out two in relief.
Western Carolina (7-10) opens an eight-game homestand this weekend with a three-game nonconference set against Eastern Illinois at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium. The series is scheduled for a 4 p.m. first pitch on Friday afternoon, with start times of 2 p.m. and 1 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday (
subject to change due to weather).
Keep track of everything related to Catamount baseball and WCU Athletics through social media outlets on Facebook (fb.com/CatamountSports), Twitter (@Catamounts, @CatamountBSB), and Instagram (wcu_catamounts, catamountbsb).
