JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (April 11, 2008) - The ETSU Bucs dropped game one of a three game series Friday night at Cardinal Park to conference opponent Gardner-Webb, 21-6.

ETSU (8-25, 6-13) was out hit by the Bulldogs 20-10 and committed five errors that lead to six unearned runs. The Bucs left 11 runners stranded, while the Bulldogs left ten runners stranded.

Gardner-Webb jumped on the board in the top of the first scoring three runs on a two-run single by Justin Loyd and a RBI single by Daniel Cooke. The Bucs answered in the bottom of the first as Paul Hoilman (Johnson City, Tenn.) hit a two-run home run over the fence in right center to cut the score to 3-2.

In the bottom of the third, the Bulldogs score three more on a solo shot to center by Bubbie Spake. An RBI single by Loyd and an RBI double by Josh Drewery to make the score 6-2.

Anthony Russell (Waldorf, Md.) led off the bottom of the third with an opposite field home run to cut the Gardner-Webb lead to 6-3, but the Bulldogs would score four in the top of the fourth on a double by Ty Boyles, a RBI single by Jeremiah Lokken and a grounder to second that found its way into the dugout to take a 10-3 lead.

The Bulldogs added another run on the fifth on RBI single by Boyles to increase the lead to 11-3. The Bucs put together a rally in the bottom of the fifth as Bart Roark (Mountain City, Tenn.) singled through the right side driving in Russell. Later the in the inning Hoilman came in to score on a Ben Allen (Kingsport, Tenn.) grounder to second, and Derek Trent (Kingsport, Tenn.) drove in Danny Petro (Atlanta, Ga.) on a single off of the wall in right to cut the lead to 11-6.

Drewery hit a two-run home run in the top of the sixth, and the Bulldogs would score eight more runs on five hits in the top of the ninth to make the final 21-6.

Roark was 2-for-3 on the night while Russell scored three runs and Hoilman was 2-for-4 and drove in two runs.

The Bucs are back in action tomorrow as they are set to host Gardner-Webb in a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m. at Cardinal Park.

Gardner-Webb 21, ETSU 6  (April 11, 2008 at Johnson City, Tenn.)
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GWU...........303  412  008   -  21  20  0   (16-16, 8-11 A-Sun)

ETSU..........201  030  000   -  6  10  5   (8-25, 6-13 A-Sun)

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Pitchers: ETSU -  Josh Means; Jimmy Tidwell (4); Bo Burton (6); Chaz Byrne (8); Robbie Campbell (9)
GWU -  Josh Drewery; Ryan Maxa (5)

Win -  Ryan Maxa (2-2) Loss - Josh Means (1-6)

HR - ETSU - Paul Hoilman (2); Anthony Russell (13)

GWU - Bubbie Spake (7); Josh Drewery (3)