A-Sun: Dogs Gone

By Bryan App - May 25, 2007

Gardner-Webb could do nothing right offensively. Trailing by three, the Bulldogs had a promising start in the bottom of the eighth, drawing a lead-off walk at the top of the batting order. A rally even seemed possible as Jay McConnell ripped what looked like a line drive to the gap in right-center. A stiff breeze seemed to catch the ball and guide it into the glove of charging right fielder Mike McCallister. No. 3 hitter Daniel Cooke then ripped a hit-and-run line drive at shortstop Matt Lopez, who flipped the ball to first base to double up the cheating base runner.

That was Gardner-Webb's day in a nutshell. Even when the Bulldogs tried to be aggressive, they failed. Jacksonville on the other hand added another run in the ninth to claim a 4-0 win against Gardner-Webb. With the loss, the Bulldogs were eliminated from the A-Sun Tournament.

Jacksonville's Carson Andrew went seven-plus innings for the win, combing with reliever Tim Brown for a three-hit shutout.

With the win, Jacksonville will face third-seeded Belmont at 1 p.m. Saturday, regardless of what happens in the Belmont-Stetson game tonight at 7. If Belmont wins tonight, however, the Jacksonville-Belmont game will for the A-Sun championship.