SHELBY, N.C. – JP McGuire hit a grand slam, and Gardner-Webb knocked off Longwood 9-5 to deny the Lancers a three-game sweep to start Big South conference play. Despite the game three loss, Longwood (7-12 overall, 2-1 Big South) won its conference-opening series for the fourth time since the team joined the Big South in 2013.
In game three, Gardner-Webb (8-8 overall, 1-2 Big South) flipped the script and pulled away in the final four innings behind McGuire's homer. Longwood had scored seven runs in the final four innings of the first two games.
"It was a good weekend as it is always tough to go on the road and win a series," said Longwood head coach
Ryan Mau. "We missed an opportunity to sweep and still have some things to clean up, but we are moving in a good direction with back-to-back series wins."
Longwood came out aggressive and took the lead in the first inning. With two outs,
Hunter Gilliam doubled in
Grant Keller, and
Nate Blakeney poked an RBI single up the middle to score Gilliam one batter later to make it 2-0. Blakeney tied a career high with two doubles and had his first three-hit game of the season.
"Mo [Blakeney] had a great day at the plate and led us offensively," said Mau.
After Gardner-Webb scored three runs in the third to take a one-run lead, Blakeney led Longwood's response in the fourth. The junior doubled with one out, and
De'Andre Pitts doubled him home to tie the score.
Cullan Wadsworth sent Pitts to third on a groundout, and the junior came home on a wild pitch to put Longwood up 4-3.
Gardner-Webb answered in the bottom of the fourth with two runs to retake the lead off Longwood starter
Nick Fuchs (1-2). Fuchs took the loss after surrendering five runs on six hits in 4.1 innings while walking one and striking out three. Outside of McGuire's homer off
John Gregory in the seventh, the Lancer bullpen limited Gardner-Webb and kept things close.
"I thought
Brayden Williamson,
Josh Longabaugh and
Mike Esposito were really good out of our pen today," said Mau.
Kyle Ruehlman (2-0) earned the win for Gardner-Webb after allowing four runs on six hits in 5 innings with two strikeouts.
The Lancers head back home for a midweek game against Monmouth on Tuesday afternoon. First pitch is set for 4 p.m. at Buddy Bolding Stadium.
#GoWood
