Miller Picks Up Win No. 800 As Bulldogs Sweep Past Presbyterian College Saturday Afternoon
BOILING SPRINGS, NC ---- Gardner-Webb
University gave head coach Clyde Miller his 800th career win
in Game One of Saturday's doubleheader with Presbyterian
(S.C.) College, beating the Blue Hose 8-3 behind a strong,
complete-game pitching performance by junior Dan Rothem.
The Bulldogs completed the sweep by downing Presbyterian
(29-27) 5-3 in the nightcap.
In Game One, Rothem improved his season record to 5-5 with his
fourth complete game of the season. The Tel Aviv, Israel,
native scattered 10 Presbyterian hits and struck out five
batters while walking only one in the win. Afterward, he
admitted it was an honor to be on the mound for Miller's 800th
victory.
Gardner-Webb wasted little time getting on the board, plating
three runs in the bottom of the first on a groundout RBI by Jay
Bennett, a fielding error that scored Sam Bradford
from third and an RBI single by Rod Lane that scored Cory
Evans. Presbyterian's Kevin White countered with a
solo home run in the second inning to trim the lead to 3-1,
but Gardner-Webb scored a pair of runs in the seventh and
eighth innings to put the game out of reach.
Michael James led the way offensively for GWU, going
3-for-5 with a triple and two RBI. Lane (3-4, 2B, RBI) and Chip
Watts (2-4, 2 runs, RBI) also had solid outings for the
Bulldogs.
Kevin Felts (8-4) took the loss for Presbyterian,
hurling 7.0 innings and allowing four earned runs on 11 hits.
Felts fanned five Gardner-Webb batters without a walk. The
Blue Hose got two hits each from Keagen Broussard
(2-4), White (2-4) and Heath McCutcheon (2-3).
Presbyterian was hurt by three errors in the contest, while
allowing 14 Gardner-Webb hits.
In Game Two,
three Gardner-Webb pitchers combined to beat the Blue Hose
5-3. Presbyterian chased starter John Wagner in the
second, but could not find an answer for freshman lefty Brandon
Martin until late in the game.
Martin (4-1) worked 4.0 innings out of the bullpen to pick up
his fourth victory of the season. The former Marietta (Ga.)
Pope standout did not allow an earned run during his mound
time and struck out a pair of Presbyterian batsmen. Clay
Konas came on to pitch the final 1.2 innings for his
fourth save of the season, striking out one and allowing only
two hits.
Presbyterian's Travis Hill (1-1) worked the entire six
innings for the Blue Hose and gave up 10 hits and four earned
runs for his first pitching loss of the year.
Gardner-Webb struck early again in the nightcap, scoring three
runs in the top of the first ---- keyed by consecutive RBI
doubles from Bennett and Evans. Lane also drove in a run with
an RBI single in the inning.
After Presbyterian plated a run in the top of the second,
Gardner-Webb struck for two more runs in the bottom of the
inning. James launched an RBI SAC fly to left field and
Bradford belted an RBI single past a drawn in infield for the
Dogs' final runs of the day.
Presbyterian pushed across two runs in the top of the sixth
inning to trim the edge to 5-3, taking advantage of three
Gardner-Webb miscues. Konas quieted the Blue Hose rally and
Gardner-Webb escaped with its 14th win in the last 17 games.
Bradford (2-3), Bennett (2-3) and Watts (2-3) led Gardner-Webb
at the plate. Presbyterian got a pair of singles from Kevin
White (2-3) and finished the game with eight safeties off
Bulldog pitching.
Both teams will square off again Sunday, with first pitch
slated for 2 p.m. in Boiling Springs. The contest marks the
final regular-season home game for Gardner-Webb.