Gardner-Webb Downs USC Upstate, 4-0, to Reach Semifinals
RADFORD, Va. – The Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs began Big South tournament play by cruising past USC Upstate, 4-0, on Thursday to advance to Friday's semifinals.
BOX SCORE
Gardner-Webb began the match with a dominant showing at No. 3 doubles where Breno Plentz and Stefano Puga defeated Samuel Schiano and Frederick Sydow, 6-3. The 'Dogs clinched the doubles point when Johan Fors and Ross Gilbert were victorious in the No. 2 position. Maximilian Scholl and Millen Hurrion's match at No. 1 went unfinished, but the Gardner-Webb duo held a 5-3 lead.
In singles play, the Runnin' Bulldogs won three straight singles matches to shutout the Spartans. At No. 5, Fors defeated Tom Russwurm, 6-1, 6-1 to put the 'Dogs ahead by two matches. Plentz won at No. 3, 6-3, 6-1, and Bonaventura Durall made it official, moving Gardner-Webb to the semifinals with a win at No. 6.
Durall, one of two freshman on Gardner-Webb's roster, battled Schiano at No. 6 singles and won, 6-2, 6-3. The two-set win made the Runnin' Bulldogs the first team to clinch a spot in the Big South semifinals.
Gardner-Webb now stands 13-7 overall, while USC Upstate ends its season with a 3-17 mark.
The third-seeded Runnin' Bulldogs will battle fifth-seeded Radford tomorrow at 9 a.m. and look to avenge its only Big South loss from the regular season.
On March 17 in Radford, the 'Dogs fell, 5-2, despite wins from Scholl and Hurrion in the top flights.