#3 Gardner-Webb Outslugs #2 USC Upstate, 11-4
A six-run second inning propelled No. 3 Gardner-Webb to an 11-4 victory over No. 2 USC Upstate in the opening round of the 2021 Ingles Big South Conference Baseball Championship Thursday evening at Segra Stadium in Fayetteville, N.C.
Gardner-Webb (29-21) got off to a hot start in the top of the second with back-to-back base hits by
Dom Peroni and
JP McGuire, setting up a RBI double for
Joe Brazil to put the 'Dogs on the scoreboard.
Ben LaSpauto was hit by a pitch to load the bases, which led to a two-run knock up the middle by
Mitch McLendon to give GWU a 3-0 advantage.
The Runnin' Bulldogs continued to score in the frame, with
Patrick Ferguson driving one run in on a hit through the right side and a two-run home run to right field by
Keiji Parkhurst, his 15
th home run of the season to set the score at 6-0.
That chased away USC Upstate (37-15) starter Jordan Marks, the Big South Conference Pitcher of the Year.
The Spartans got two runs back in the bottom of the third on a two-run home run by Devin Buckner.
GWU pushed its lead back to six runs in the fifth as one run scored on an error by Upstate catcher Damon Maynard and a RBI groundout by McLendon allowed one run to cross the plate.
Gardner-Webb expanded its lead in the sixth to 10-2 after a two-run home run by Peroni, his sixth of 2021, and pushed the lead to 11-4 on a RBI double to the deepest part of the ballpark in centerfield by Parkhurst.
USC Upstate attempted to rally in the bottom of the ninth, with Brady Garrison hitting a two-run home run with one out, but GWU reliever
Connor Gleeson retired the following two batters to thwart any comeback attempt.
Mason Miller (8-1) shined on the mound for the Runnin' Bulldogs, allowing just two runs on six hits with 12 strikeouts and only one walk in eight innings of work. Gleeson tossed the ninth, allowing two runs on one hit.
GWU totaled 11 base hits, led by a 3-for-5 effort by Parkhurst with a double, home run, three RBI and two runs scored.
Marks (10-2) took the loss for the Spartans, giving up six runs on seven hits with one strikeout in just 1.2 innings of work in the start.
Upstate had seven hits, led by Buckner (2-for-3, 2B, HR, 2 RBI).
The No. 3 seeded Runnin' Bulldogs will now face No. 4 Presbyterian, who upset top-seeded Campbell earlier in the day, Friday afternoon at 3:00 pm in the semifinal round. The action will be broadcast live on ESPN+ (WatchESPN.com / ESPN App).