CLINTON, S.C. – Gardner-Webb used the power of a three-run eighth to push past the Presbyterian College baseball team by the score of 9-8 in a back-and-forth conference battle on Sunday afternoon at the PC Baseball Complex. Chase Hughes led the offense with three hits in the defeat.
FINAL SCORE: Gardner-Webb 9, Presbyterian 8
LOCATION: PC Baseball Complex (Clinton, S.C.)
RECORDS: Presbyterian (16-25, 8-10) | Gardner-Webb (26-13, 12-6)
W: Dalton Wood (1-1) | L: Luke Gibson (0-2)
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Gardner-Webb grabbed the early lead in the second with an RBI double to get the early advantage on Sunday.
- The guests pushed across a second run in the third to take a 2-0 lead.
- PC got on the board in the third with an RBI double from Trey Fenderson before an RBI base hit from Jack Gorman evened the game at two in the third.
- The Blue Hose jumped in front in the fourth with a pair of runs as Chase Hughes tallied an RBI single before a double steal opportunity allowed Yechiel Saint to scamper home and push the PC lead to 4-2.
- The Runnin' Bulldogs regained the advantage in the fifth with a four-run frame that gave the guests a 6-4 lead.
- In the sixth, PC drew a pair of bases-loaded walks before an RBI single from Brody Fahr gave the Blue Hose a 7-6 lead.
- Gardner-Webb regained the edge in the eighth with a three-run frame capped by a two-run home to jump back ahead 9-7.
- In the ninth, Hughes connected on an RBI single but the Blue Hose were unable to scratch across another run as the guests claimed a 9-8 series-clinching victory.
NOTABLES
- Hughes continued his strong weekend with his third three-hit game of the season to lead the Blue Hose on Sunday. He finished the series going 6-of-8 (.750) with four runs scored, six runs knocked in, and a homer.
- Gorman tallied his 11th multi-hit game of the year with a pair of hits also one of three players with a pair of runs driven in. Hughes and Fenderson also tallied two RBIs on Sunday.
- Fahr extended his reached base streak to 16 consecutive games which is a season-high for the Blue Hose shortstop. He's also tallied a hit in nine straight contests.
- Fahr finished the series with a team-high .583 (7-of-12) performance at the dish with two doubles, two RBIs, and three runs scored. He reached base at a .643 clip in the series.
- Kyle Merkle recorded his third double of the season as Fenderson picked up his fourth of the year as well.
- Fenix DiGiacomo tossed a scoreless ninth with three strikeouts for the Blue Hose in relief.
UP NEXT
- The Blue Hose close out their five-game homestand on Tuesday with a 4 p.m. first pitch against Alabama State on ESPN+.
