WSU (17-17) never trailed on Friday at Bailey-Brayton field against Gardner-Webb (16-19), setting themselves up to sweep the Runnin’ Bulldogs on Saturday.
After a pitcher’s duel on Thursday, the Cougar’s bats came alive on Friday. WSU got back freshman center fielder Trevor Smith from a hamstring injury, who returned to the leadoff spot for his first start since March 17. Smith had an RBI and made four putouts in center field.
WSU did all of its damage in the middle innings, with two runs scored in both the third and fourth innings, and chased GWU starter Matthew Stuart from the game after four innings. WSU tacked on three more in the fifth inning thanks to a laser three-run home run from first baseman Ryan Skjonsby.
As for the Cougars on the mound, senior right hander Griffin Smith continued his stretch of strong starts, as he fired off six innings of work, and gave up three runs. From that point on, head coach Nathan Choate turned to his fully rested bullpen to finish the game.
Righty Scott Rienguette entered in the eighth, and threw one pitch to get the Cougars out of a jam. Rienguette stayed in the game to earn his fourth save of the season after closing the door on the Runnin’ Bulldogs.
“We were just going matchups,” Choate said. “We had a lot of guys available because Nick [Lewis] went eight innings yesterday, it’s a great luxury to have.”
Choate tabbed Cam Macleod to get the start behind the dish yesterday, Macleod’s first start since March 29. The junior catcher took the opportunity and ran with it, as he went 2-4 with two RBIs, and threw out two GWU baserunners.
“They are an aggressive baserunning team,” Macleod said. “We talked about it before the game and I was ready every pitch if they were gonna try to steal.”
The win pushed WSU back to a .500 record for the first time since the beginning of the season. The Cougars will turn to senior Luke Meyers as they try to finish the week on a four game winning streak.
“We had opportunities to do some things today that we didn’t do,” Choate said. “Some process driven things that we need to clean up.”
The Cougars currently sit in fifth place in the Mountain West Conference, but are well within striking distance of first place.
“We just need to stay with the process, play good baseball,” Choate said.
