Despite allowing 11 hits, Gardner-Webb pitching held Liberty off the scoreboard throughout the afternoon, as the Runnin’ Bulldogs defeated the Flames, 6-3, at John Henry Moss Stadium, Saturday. The Flames left 12 men on base in the Big South Conference contest.
Third baseman Tyler Galazin posted his first four-hit game at Liberty and scored twice for the Flames.
Liberty drops to 10-8 overall and 1-1 in Big South play. Gardner-Webb improves to 12-8 overall and 1-1 in conference.
Gardner-Webb staked itself to a 3-0 lead in the first. Catcher Justin Kunz and third baseman Eric Jones each reached on two-out singles, before first baseman Chandler Redmond belted his seventh home run of the season to give the Runnin’ Bulldogs an advantage.
Liberty got on the scoreboard in the top of the second. Galazin beat out an infield single with one out and moved to second on a fielding error by Gardner-Webb’s Redmond on chopper to first base by right fielder Brandon Rohrer. After advancing to third on a fielder’s choice grounder by shortstop Cam Locklear, Galazin scored on a two-out single by second baseman Trey McDyre to make it 3-1 Gardner-Webb.
The Flames loaded the bases with two outs in the third and moved a runner to third base with two outs in the fifth, but each time Gardner-Webb starting pitcher Bradley Hallman retired the next batter to keep Liberty from scoring.
In the top of the eighth, the Flames inched closer. Galazin led off the inning with a single and with one out, advanced to second on a balk. After moving to third on a ground out by Locklear, McDyre lined a double down the right field line, plating Galazin and trimming the Runnin’ Bulldogs’ edge to 3-2. Looking to tie, center fielder D.J. Artis followed with a single to center. McDyre tried to score on the hit, but was thrown out at the plate, preserving Gardner-Webb’s one-run advantage.
In the bottom of the inning, the Bulldogs answered, extending their lead. Shortstop Taber Mongero walked to open the frame and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. After a Liberty pitching change, Kunz was hit by a pitch and Jones doubled, scoring Mongero for a 4-2 edge. Second baseman Mickey Dugan followed with a two-run single, stretching the Gardner-Webb lead to four.
Liberty plated a run in the ninth for the final score of 6-3. With one out, first baseman Dylan Allen was hit by a pitch and moved to second on ground out by designated hitter Andrew Yacyk. Johnathan Embry followed with a single to score Allen and trim Liberty’s deficit to three, before Bulldogs’ pitcher Jarrett Thompson closed out the contest by retiring the next batter.
Gardner-Webb’s Hallman improves to 3-1 on the season. He allowed one run on six hits over the first six innings. He struck out seven and walked three.
Liberty starter Jackson Bertsch falls to 1-2. The right-hander gave up four runs on seven hits over 7 1/3 innings. He struck out one and walked two.
Gardner-Webb collected nine hits in the contest and committed the game’s only error.
Share
AFP
