BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – Kennesaw State freshman Kyle Heckathorn fanned eight in 7.0 innings of work to key the Owls' 8-0 shutout of Gardner-Webb Friday afternoon.

The Bulldogs (14-27, 4-12 A-Sun) have lost nine of their last 10 games, averaging just 1.7 runs per game in those nine defeats.

The visiting Owls (22-16, 6-7 A-Sun) chased GWU starter Webster Beal with four runs and four hits in the top of the second inning, pushing an early 1-0 lead to 5-0 with the surge. Jay Morrow's two-run roller through the right side with two outs proved to be the big blow.

Morrow added another RBI in the top of the fourth, pushing the Owls' lead to 6-0 with another roller through the right side – plating Jacob Robbins, who bunted for a single and advanced to second on a balk call on reliever Matt Tafazzoli

Gardner-Webb collected three hits over the first three innings, all singles, but did little to threaten the scoreboard.

Kennesaw State got a two-run single from Martin Baker with an out in the eighth to push their lead to 8-0, and Gardner-Webb would have no answer.

GWU managed just four hits in the game, with the top three batters in the order combining to go 0-for-11 with six strikeouts between them.

Morrow (3-for-4, three RBI), Robbins (3-for-5, two 2B) paced Kennesaw's 13-hit attack in the game.

Jeremiah Lokken went 2-for-3 to account for half of Gardner-Webb's hit total. Nate MacDonald and Shea Harris had the other two GWU singles.

Beal (1-6) took the loss, allowing five runs in 2.0 innings of work. Tafazzoli worked 6.0 solid innings in relief, allowing just one run, and Tim Thomas worked a scoreless ninth for the Bulldogs.

Heckathorn (4-1) got the win with his seven strong innings, and Kennesaw got blemish-free innings from Justin Edwards and Justin Freeman to preserve the shutout.

Both teams will tangle again Saturday with a doubleheader set to begin at 1 pm ET.