Bucs Drop to Gardner-Webb, Dolan Hits Two Homers

Freshman Patrick Dolan hit two home runs in Saturday's game, and tallied three of four RBI for the Bucs.

BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. - After taking a victory by ten runs yesterday over the Runnin’ Bulldogs, the Bucs dropped Saturday’s game in Boiling Springs by 11 runs.  The Bulldogs took the win by a final of 15-4.  The loss moves the Bucs to 9-11 on the season and 4-3 in Big South play, while the Bulldogs advance to 12-7, and 4-1 in conference play.

The Bulldog’s Campbell (1-1) took the win for the Bulldogs allowing 4 runs on 11 hits, and striking out 3.  Campbell was the only Bulldog pitcher to take the mound for the contest, while the Bucs sent three to the mound.  The Bucs’ opener, Charlie McCready (0-2), would tally the loss in 1.2 innings of work.  Bucs closer, Stew Brase, faced the most Bulldogs at the plate, 23, in 5.0 innings.

Freshman Patrick Dolan led the Bucs from the plate, going three-for-four from the plate, hitting two solo home runs and three RBI.  Dolan is the third Buc this season to drop two homers in the same game; he joins Blake Hunt who dropped two in the Bucs’ game against Chicago State on February 24, and center fielder Tom Burkett who hit two on March 11 against College of Charleston.

Nick Chinners and Jake Cox, along with Dolan, each hit for extra bases, while senior Kory Morian was the only other Buc than Dolan to tally a RBI.

The Bulldogs were quick to show they planned to retake stake on their home field scoring 11 runs in the first three innings of the game.  The Bucs would score their first run in top of the third on a single from Morian.  Senior Jake Cox would cross the plate to put the Bucs on the board after hitting a double and reaching third on a failed pickoff attempt.  The Bucs would add another run in the fourth on a solo home run over left field for Dolan to bring the score to 11-2. 

The Bucs would hold the Bulldogs in the fourth for their first scoreless inning of the game, but Gardner-Webb would find their hits again in the fifth adding another three runs in the bottom of the inning.  Dolan would again help the Bucs in the top of the sixth, hitting his second homer of the game over the left field for the Bucs’ third run of the game. 

Both teams would add a last run in the eighth inning, with the Bucs’ Nick Chinners scoring on a two-out single from Dolan after hitting a double into left field.  The Bulldog’s McFarland would add Gardner-Webb’s 14th run on a double from Ahearn.

The Bucs and Bulldogs will take the field for game three of the series on Sunday at 1 p.m.