Gardner-Webb scored five runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to rally for an 8-4 victory over the Youngstown State baseball team in the series finale on Sunday at Bill Masters Field in Boiling Springs, N.C.
Brady Shannon hit a go-ahead two-run home run with two outs in the top of the eighth to give the Penguins a 4-3 lead. The Runnin' Bulldogs responded by scoring five times in the home half of the inning and held on to secure the three-game series sweep.
Kyle Fossum singled, walked twice and scored a run while Cole Smith delivered an RBI double for the Penguins offensively.
YSU starter Tyler Heflin allowed three runs on seven hits with four strikeouts over a career-high 5.1 innings on the mound. The freshman right-hander retired the side in order in the fifth as he blanked the Runnin' Bulldogs in four different frames. Braden Gebhardt suffered the loss after surrendering three runs over two innings of relief while Aidan English was tagged with a pair of unearned runs.
Gardner-Webb got on the scoreboard first with a solo home run from Dale Francis Jr. in the bottom of the third inning.
Youngstown State moved in front 2-1 with a pair of runs on two hits in the top of the sixth inning. Jay Wrona hit a one-out single and Brayden Kuriger walked to set up an RBI double to left center by Smith. After Fossum walked to load the bases, Eli Brown drew a bases-load walk to put the Penguins ahead.
The Runnin' Bulldogs regained a 3-2 edge with two runs in the home half of the sixth. Matt Ilgenfritz hit a leadoff single, Tanner Thomas was hit by a pitch and both runners advanced 90 feet on a groundout. Aaron Morgan then brought home both baserunners with a deep sacrifice fly to center field.
The Penguins jumped back in front 4-3 in the top of the eighth as Fossum hit a two-out single and Shannon followed with a go-ahead, two-run blast to left field.
Gardner-Webb answered by scoring five runs on two hits and two errors in the bottom of the eighth to take a decisive 8-4 lead. A single and two hit batters loaded the bases, and two runs crossed the plate on wild pitches. A walk and a fielding error loaded the bases again to set up an RBI groundout by Ryan Kennell, and Lawson Knight added a two-out, two-run double to left center.
Gardner-Webb starter Will Franklin allowed two runs on two hits with five punch outs over 5.1 innings in a no-decision. Devin Pressley earned the victory by tossing a scoreless ninth inning.
Youngstown State will conclude its early-season road stretch on Wednesday with a midweek contest at Pitt. First pitch at Charles L. Cost Field in Pittsburgh is scheduled for 3 p.m.
