BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – A three-run sixth inning, sparked by three straight singles to start the frame, led Gardner-Webb past Longwood, 4-2, Friday night at John H. Moss Stadium.
Big South Preseason Player of the Year Collin Thacker led Gardner-Webb (14-16, 3-4 Big South) with a pair of hits, including an RBI single that started the three-run sixth for the Runnin' Bulldogs. Longwood (10-18, 3-4 Big South) dropped despite outhitting Gardner-Webb 9-6.
Zach Mosay (4-3) picked up the win for the Runnin' Bulldogs with 7.0 innings of two-run ball, striking out five batters with eight hits and no walks allowed. Wil Sellers collected the save, his fifth of the season.
Michael Catlin (1-2) took the loss for the Lancers despite holding Gardner-Webb to two unearned runs in 3.0 innings in relief of starter
Cody Wager.
Wager received no decision after pitching 5.0 innings of two-run ball, striking out four batters with two walks and five hits allowed.
Michael Osinski led the Lancers at the plate with three hits in a 3-for-4 game. Osinski picked up two doubles and an RBI, tying for the team lead in two-baggers on the season and extending his team lead in RBI to 27 on the season.
Of the nine Longwood hits, five were for extra bases as Osinski,
Brandon Harvell, and
Mac McCafferty all doubled, and
Alex Lewis hit his second home run of the year. Lewis, the team leader with 12 extra-base hits, is the only Lancer with multiple doubles, triples, and homers on the campaign.
The Lancers struck first with a solo shot off the bat of Lewis. With one out in the second inning, the senior ripped the second pitch of the at-bat on a line to right-center field for a homer off the scoreboard, extending his hitting streak to six games.
Gardner-Webb threatened in the third inning, putting a runner at third base following a double and a wild pitch. With two outs,
Antwaun Tucker made a diving grab on a sinking liner in left-center field to keep the Runnin' Bulldogs off the board.
Longwood doubled the lead with a pair of doubles in the fourth inning. Harvell started the frame with a two-bagger to left and came across to score on Osinski's seventh double of the season.
Gardner-Webb got on the board and took the lead with a three-run rally in the sixth inning. The home half of the frame started with three straight singles, the third an RBI single by Thacker, chased Wager. After a bunt moved the runners up, Justin Kunz put down a bunt on a suicide squeeze play that tied the game at two. With two outs and a runner on third, an error allowed Gardner-Webb to take the lead.
Gardner-Webb added to the lead in the home half of the eighth. Thacker singled to start the frame and got to second base on a sacrifice bunt. The next man up reached on a throwing error, allowing Thacker to score and up the Gardner-Webb lead to 4-2.
The game marked the return of junior outfielder
Sammy Miller, who missed the previous four games after being hit by pitch in the first game of Longwood's doubleheader at Radford on March 25. Miller, the lead-off man and center fielder, went 1-for-4 at the plate with a stolen base and three putouts in the field. Miller's 14 stolen bases on the season are second-most in the Big South and inside the top 30 in the NCAA.
The Lancers send sophomore lefty
Steven Farkas (0-0) to the mound for game two, while Gardner-Webb will counter with junior right-hander Bradley Hallman (3-2). First pitch Saturday is set for 2 p.m. at John H. Moss Stadium.
#GoWood
