VMI(15-10, 6-3 Big South) batted around in the top of the fourth to take control of the game, plating five runs on five hits, one error and a walk in the frame. Back-to-back doubles from Thomas Stallings and Matt Winn produced three of those runs and put the Keydets up 5-0. Will Connerly also had an RBI single in the fourth.

Gardner-Webb (10-18, 3-6 Big South) got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fourth, with singles from Scott Johnson and Matt Simmons putting runners on the corners with one out. Henry Rundio's sacrifice fly allowed Johnson to score, but VMI starter Andrew Woods got out of the inning with a 5-1 lead intact.

The Runnin' Bulldogs cut the lead to 5-2 with a run in the fifth, getting a two-out RBI single from Scott Coleman that drove home Blair Huggins. Johnson nearly tied the game one batter later, but his long fly ball to left was knocked down just shy of the warning track by the 20 mph winds to end the inning.

JJ Nazzaro led off the bottom of the seventh inning with a sharp single to right, but a 6-4-3 double play and a line drive to center ended the frame with VMI still holding onto its three-run lead.

Gardner-Webb had a golden opportunity in the eighth to pull even. Simmons greeted reliever Jonathan Kelley with a single up the middle with one out, and Rundio drew a four-pitch walk to bring the tying run to the plate - forcing another call to the bullpen for the Keydets.

Righthander Berkley Hawkins was up to the challenge, however, striking out Nick Triplett on three pitches for the second out of the inning. Ryan Hodge sliced a pitch down the first base line that nearly snuck inside the bag, but Cameron Walter gloved the chance to end the inning.

VMI added an insurance run with two outs in the ninth. Jordan Tarsovich fought off a pitch for a single to right and stole second to get into scoring position. Brandon Angus took advantage of a fortuitous bounce on a high chopper to first, legging out an infield single - and Tarsovich scored from second to put the Keydets up 6-2 before GWU closer Andrew Massey could work out of the jam.

Gardner-Webb got the tying run to the plate with two outs in the ninth, loading the bases on back-to-back singles from Coleman and Johnson. But Hawkins rolled a ground ball to finish off the game and record his first save of the season.

Erik Heiligenstadt (1-4) took the mound loss for Gardner-Webb, allowing five runs (four earned) on six hits and four walks in 4.2 innings of work. The southpaw had walked only four men this season in his previous 38.2 innings pitched.

The Runnin' Bulldogs collected 12 hits on Sunday, but stranded 12 base runners. Simmons (3-for-4), Nazzaro (2-for-4), Best (2-for-5), Coleman (2-for-5, RBI), Johnson (2-for-5, run) and Hodge (1-for-4) accounted for those base knocks.

Woods (5-0) worked 7.1 innings, scattered nine hits and allowed just one earned run (three strikeouts). Hawkins worked 1.2 innings of scoreless relief for the save (two strikeouts).

The Keydets had nine hits in the game, with Angus going 3-for-5 to lead that effort.

Gardner-Webb will hit the road on Wednesday night for a 6:00 pm first pitch at USC Upstate in Spartanburg, S.C.